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Mexico have claimed the Rugby Americas North title with a comprehensive 32-3 win over Guyana in Coyoacán, Mexico City, on Saturday afternoon. In doing so they also push on to the next round of the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, where they will play the winner of the South American ‘B’ Championship.
It was a dreadful start to the game for Mexico, who could not get any meaningful possession and conceded numerous penalties in the opening quarter. Guyana scrumhalf Ryan Gonsalves made good on his first penalty goal attempt in just the second minute of the game, but his form deserted him as he squandered three rudimentary attempts to leave nine points on the field.
Agustín Sánchez had no problem finding the posts with his first shot in the 22nd minute to draw things level, and the fullback’s success seemed to inspire his team. With the ball finally in their hands, a chip kick into the end zone bounced fortuitously for Christian Henning to fall on, with the conversion from Sánchez making it 10-3 at the half.
The second half was all Mexico. Sánchez missed his second chance at goal early but struck his third true after Guyana hooker Rickford Cummings was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Miguel Carner. The Green Machine did well to stave off any further points while a man down, but immediately after returning to full strength a creative lineout move saw hooker Mizael Loredo peel around the maul to score Mexico’s second try.
Andrés Rodríguez was the next in on the fun, running clean up the middle through a titanic gap in the defensive line and tearing away from the cover for a long-range effort. Carner took over the kicking duties but couldn’t connect with his first go. The final moments crept away with more handling errors until at last Las Serpientes were rewarded for their pressure defense and Yeudiel Suro fell on a loose pass that left the ball free in Guyana’s try zone.
Mexico now wait for the winner of the South American B Championship in Lima this month. Should they pass their next test, a match against Paraguay will determine whether they move ahead in Americas zone qualifying for RWC 2019.
MEXICO 32
Tries – C. Henning (35), M. Loredo (60), A. Rodríguez (64), Y. Suro (79)
Cons – A. Sanchez 2 (36, 61), M. Carner (78)
Pens – A. Sanchez 2 (22, 49)
GUYANA 3
Pens – R. Gonzalves (2)
Yellow cards – R. Cummings (48)
MEXICO
1 Marcos Flegmann 2 Mizael Loredo 3 Max Douek (capt.) 4 Santiago Prieto 5 Roberto Calderón 6 José Raúl Reyes 7 Gonzalo Pons 8 Simon Pierre 9 Andrés Rodríguez 10 Miguel Carner 11 Alejandro Chavez 12 Pascal Nadaud 13 Christian Henning 14 Fharid Samano 15 Agustín Sánchez
Reserves: 16 Jesús Rico 17 Erik Castillo 18 Santiago Leboreiro 19 Alberto Ruíz 20 Juan Pablo Andrade 21 Rodrigo Ripoll 22 Yeudiel Suro 23 Luis Arredondo
GUYANA
1 Jason Tyrell 2 Rickford Cummings 3 Rondell McArthur 4 Vallon Adams 5 Jose Felicien 6 Dwayne Schroeder 7 Jamal Angus 8 Richard Staglon (capt.) 9 Ryan Gonsalves 10 Peabo Hamilton 11 Avery Corbin 12 Claudius Butts 13 Ronald Mayers 14 Patrick King 15 Lancelot Adonis
