Uruguay Overpower Paraguay in Asunción

Following their opening round win over Brazil in São Paulo Uruguay made it two from two as Los Teros overpowered Paraguay in Asunción this afternoon. In defeating Los Yakarés 60-15 the Uruguayans are now the odds-on favorites to win the South American A Championship.

As big as the final scoreline was, it does not tell an accurate portrayal of just how well Paraguay performed. At the game’s midway point Uruguay was leading the match 15-10 and six minutes into the second half the scores were level.

Paraguay started strong with winger Sergio Alvarenga opening the scoring with a penalty in the 5th minute. Seven minutes later Los Teros flyhalf Martín Secco got Uruguay on the board with a penalty of his own.

At the 18 minute mark flanker Gonzalo Campomar backed up his double against Brazil by scoring Uruguay’s opening try in Asunción. The try would be his first of three for the match but it would be Paraguay who would score next with No 8 Leonardo Glizt crossing in the 21st minute.

Alvarenga’s successful shot at goal gave Paraguay a 10-8 lead which would remain until the final play of the opening half. Campomar’s 40th minute try was converted by Secco to make it a 15-10 scoreline to Los Teros at the interval.

Two minutes into the second half Paraguayan outside center Carlos Bareiro made it a tied score. His unconverted try saw Uruguay respond by clicking into gear to control the remainder of the match. Unanswered tries to Mauro Daverio (2), Nicolás Freitas, Campomar, Alejandro Nieto, Fernando Bascou, and Germán Kessler gave Uruguay a comprehensive victory.

With one game remaining, a home match against Chile in Montevideo Los Teros are in full control of the competition with six competition points. Chile are in second spot with four while Brazil have one more than Los Yakarés who are yet to register a point after two matches.

Uruguay’s noteworthy away win is even more impressive when considering professionals were not available and nor were players from the Old Boys and Old Christians clubs – their players instead playing in the Campeonato Argentino del Interior B.

Next week Paraguay will play at home to Brazil while Uruguay welcome Los Cóndores to the Estadio Charrúa. The top two placed sides will earn qualification for the 2016 Sudamérica Rugby Cup which will also feature the Argentina XV.

 

SCORING

PARAGUAY 15
Tries – L. Glizt, G. Bareiro
Cons – S. Alvarenga
Pens – S. Alvarenga

URUGUAY 60
Tries – G. Campomar 3, M. Daverio 2, N. Freitas, A. Nieto, F. Bascou, G. Kessler
Cons – M. Secco 6
Pens – M. Secco

 

TEAMS

PARAGUAY
1 Emilio Gorostiaga, 2 Omar Rojas, 3 Álvaro Rojas, 4 Alejandro Montiel, 5 Carlos Plate, 6 Miguel Jara, 7 Martín Ortiz (capt.), 8 Leonardo Glizt, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 10 Gerard Cuttier, 11 Sergio Alvarenga, 12 Mateo Arevalo, 13 Carlos Bareiro, 14 Diego Argaña, 15 Rodrigo Da Rosa

Replacements: 16 Juan Manuel Gavigán, 17 Juan Inglés, 18 Enrique Cañiza, 19 Álvaro Báez, 20 Horacio Ocampos, 21 Eymard Brizuela, 22 Manuel Careaga, 23 Pablo Espínola

URUGUAY
1 Ignacio Secco, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Carlos Arboleya, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala, 6 Joaquín Dell’Acqua, 7 Gonzalo Campomar, 8 Alejandro Nieto (capt.), 9 Guillermo Lijtenstein, 10 Martín Secco, 11 Santiago Martínez, 12 Nicolás Freitas, 13 Joaquín Prada, 14 Mauro Daverio, 15 Federico Favaro

Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Diego Arbelo, 18 Rafael Mones, 19 Gonzalo Soto, 20 Fernando Bascou, 21 Facundo Klappenbach, 22 Mateo Tortorella, 23 Marcos Brovetto

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Henrique Platais (CBRu)
Assistants: Diego Colussi (UAR) & Mauricio Escalante (UAR)