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Uruguay got their South American ‘A’ Championship off to a winning start on Saturday as they cruised past Paraguay at the Estadio Héroes de Curupaytí. Heavy wind and rain delayed kickoff by 30 minutes but it didn’t affect the concentration of Los Teros, who ran out to a 40-0 lead before Paraguay could put any points on the board.
The forwards set the platform for the victory as they piled into the Yakares early and often. Forced to defend repeatedly a yellow card was brandished to Omar Rojas in only the 10th minute for team infringements. Uruguay opted for the scrum and with only seven forwards Paraguay collapsed under the pressure and the referee awarded the penalty try.
Despite the wet conditions Los Teros were determined to move the ball and with Gaston Mieres in a finishing mood the result was four more tries before the break. Mieres was set free down the right side for his first then it was time for the forwards to strike again. A lineout drive gave Martin Espiga a crack at the line from close range and the hooker made no mistake.
Mieres struck twice more before the halftime whistle would sound. The first was at the end of a lovely team attack that swung left and then all the way back to the right with Andrés Vilaseca putting his winger into space. Santiago Arata sparked the second, spinning past the post defense with Mieres on his shoulder to run in under the posts.
Los Teros brought up 40 points with a pushover try touched down by Gonzalo Soto, who had moved to the back of the scrum when captain Alejandro Nieto came off injured in the first half. With the job done Uruguay opted to sit back and it allowed the Yacarés a chance to play offense.
With some wind now in their sails Paraguay went on the attack and managed to create just enough space for replacement flyhalf Héctor Gayoso to dive into the right corner. Uruguay replied almost immediately through Soto, who drove over with ease as if to remind the Yacarés who was in control.
It was Paraguay, however, who had the final say, scoring twice in the closing minutes of the game to come away with some confidence. Both tries came from the big men up front. First it was second row Luis Mauger who piled in under the the post defense. The last act of the game saw burly prop Martín Sitjar take an offload from fellow front row Álvaro Rojas to barrel over with Gayoso’s second conversion calling a close to proceedings.
Uruguay now return home to prepare for Brazil in a week’s time. Paraguay will pack their bags and head to the coast to play against Chile at the Estadio Municipal de La Pintana.
SCORING
PARAGUAY 19
Tries – H. Gayoso (59’), L. Mauger (73’), M. Sitjar (80’)
Cons – H. Gayoso 2/3 (74’, 80’)
Yellow cards – O. Rojas (10’)
URUGUAY 45
Tries – Penalty try (11’), G. Mieres 3 (18’, 33’, 40’), M. Espiga (30’), G. Soto 2 (52’, 63’)
Cons – G. Albanell 4/5 (19’, 31’, 35’, 53’), R. Silva 0/1
Yellow cards – S. Arata (57’)
TEAMS
PARAGUAY
1 Manuel Benítez (17 Daniel Cabral 27’ {18 Martín Sitjar 60’}), 2 Omar Rojas (16 Juan Manuel Gavigán 53’), 3 Álvaro Rojas, 4 Alejandro Montiel (19 Luis Mauger 57’), 5 Andrés Nasser (capt.), 6 Juan Gómez (16 Juan Gavigán 10’-20’), 7 Carlos Plate, 8 Leonardo Glizt, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro (21 Gastón Navas 53’), 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Fabrizio Da Rosa (22 Fabrizio Cabrera 21’-27’, 61’), 12 Pablo Espínola (20 Rodrigo Da Rosa 60’), 13 Carlos Bareiro (23 Héctor Gayoso 53’), 14 Diego Argaña, 15 Horacio Agüero
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benítez 60’), 2 Martín Espiga (16 Facundo Gattas 60’), 3 Juan Echeverría (18 Mario Sagario 46’), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Gonzalo Soto, 7 Franco Lamanna (20 Santiago Hernández 46’), 8 Alejandro Nieto (capt.) (19 Manuel Leindekar 29’), 9 Santiago Arata (21 Guillermo Lijtenstein 67’), 10 Germán Albanell (22 Lucas Durán 60’), 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Gastón Mieres (23 Leandro Leivas 46’), 15 Rodrigo Silva
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Pablo Deluca (UAR)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Mauricio Escalante (UAR)
