Cuyo surged to an unlikely Seven de La República title this weekend. The western Argentine provincial side defeated Buenos Aires 14-5 to be crowned the 2016 national champions.
Cuyo’s national side came after earlier eliminating Salta and Entre Rios in earlier play-off’s. Buenos Aires had reached the final in style and was the overwhelming favorite for the title.
Notwithstanding, Cuyo played the better rugby in the final. Outscoring Buenos Aires by two tries to one, Cuyo ran out winners. The western Argentine side held the lead from start to finish. Omar Moreno scored the opening try which Francisco Galdeano converted. Buenos Aires responded through José Palma. His try would be Buenos Aires’ only score.
In the second half Mauro Pettenari scored to put Cuyo out of range. Buenos Aires was unable to find its feet which saw Cuyo winning their first national title in nine years.
SCORERS
CUYO
Try: Moreno, Pettenari
Conversion: Galdeano (2)
BUENOS AIRES
Try: Palma
CUYO
Fausto Fortunato (capt.), Omar Moreno, Enzo Falaschi, Mauro Pettenari, Francisco Galdeano, Francisco García Zalazar, Maximiliano Filizzola
Replacement: Ezequiel Pelaia
BUENOS AIRES
Joaquín Paz, Ramiro Finco (capt.), Germán Klubus, Diego Palma, José Palma, Mateo Romanelli, Juan Delguy
Replacements: Tomás Burckley, Felipe Del Mestre, Luca Sabato, Jerónimo Solveyra