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The Argentina XV outclassed Canada ‘A’ by a score of 56-29 at the Estadio Charrúa in the first round of the Americas Pacific Challenge on Saturday. An incredible four try performance from Benjamín Macome led the way, with six conversions and the guidance of Juan Cruz Gonzalez ensuring the Argentine victory.
A feeling-out process during the opening minutes ended when Segundo Tuculet and Bautista Delguy crossed in quick succession. Tuculet broke the line in his own end and raced clear for the score, while Delguy was on hand to finish off and attacking move from first phase possession. Canadian captain Gordon McRorie replied with a penalty goal but further highlight for Canada would not come until well into the second half.
Macome’s stunning haul began with two players in the sin-bin and Argentina down to only 13 players. The no8 bashed his way over and added a second on the back of a rolling maul once his team was back to full strength. His hat-trick was complete just five minutes after the break, the third also from a maul and almost a carbon copy of the second. Facundo Gigena’s score just short of the hour mark, this time taking the offload from Macome, made it 42-3 and leaving to nope of a comeback.
An intercept try by McRorie was erased by Macome’s fourth score, this time off the back of a scrum. A frantic 10 minute stretch to end the match saw Canada score three tries through Adrian Wadden, Ben LeSage, and finally Ray Barkwill on full-time. Argentina added one for good measure through flanker Rodrigo Báez. The flurry of scores added some respectability to the score but in truth Canada were playing second fiddle for the majority of the match.
Argentina now turn their attention to hosts Uruguay on Wednesday, while Canada will look to salvage some confidence from their closing minutes ahead of their meeting with neighbors USA. On the face of this result, Argentina look favorites to claim the title though two games remain to the played in day one.
SCORING
ARGENTINA XV 56
Tries – S. Tuculet (11), B. Delguy (14), B. Macome 4 (27, 36, 45, 68), F. Gigena (56), R. Báez (75)
Cons – J. González 6 (12, 15, 28, 37, 46, 57), D. Miotti 2 (69, 76)
Yellow cards – C. Bartoloni (23), J. Guillemaín (24)
CANADA ‘A’ 29
Tries – G. McRorie (62), A. Wadden (70), B. LeSage (78), R. Barkwill (80)
Cons – G. McRorie (63), R. Povey 2 (78, 80)
Pens – G. McRorie (18)
Yellow cards – R. Barkwill (55), R. Brouwer (58)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA XV
1 Facundo Gigena 2 Axel Zapata 3 Cristian Bartoloni 4 Juan Cruz Guillemaín 5 Ignacio Larrague 6 Rodrigo Báez 7 Tomás Lezana 8 Benjamín Macome 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.) 10 Juan Cruz González 11 Fernando Luna 12 Juan Cappiello 13 Santiago Álvarez 14 Segundo Tuculet 15 Bautista Delguy
16 Gaspar Baldunciel 17 Nicolás Solveyra 18 Santiago Medrano 19 Pedro Ortega 20 Santiago Montagner 21 Gonzalo Bertranou 22 Domingo Miotti 23 Julián Domínguez
CANADA ‘A’
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Ryan Kotlewski 4 Conor Keys 5 Adrian Wadden 6 Kyle Baillie 7 Matt Heaton 8 Lucas Rumball 9 Gordon McRorie (capt.) 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Dan Moor 12 Ben LeSage 13 Guiseppe du Toit 14 Kainoa Lloyd 15 Rory McDonell
16 Martial Lagain 17 Peter Houlihan 18 Ryan Ackerman 19 Lucas Albornoz 20 Nanyak Dala 21 Andrew Ferguson 22 Robbie Povey 23 Anton Ngongo
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Gonzalo Ventoso (URU)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (URU)
