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Los Pumitas will play and host the 2018 Junior World Championship. The South Americans’ win this morning over Samoa sees them avoiding bottom spot in the 2017 competition in Tbilisi.
Los Pumitas retained their spot at the elite level by defeating Samoa 53-42. The high-scoring win featured a total of 13 tries, seven of them were scored by Argentina.
The South Americans opened the scoring early. Crossing was hooker José Luis González. Other tries in the match were scored by Luciano González (2), Bautista Delguy (2), Tomás Albornoz and Tomás Malanos.
Argentina had a big lead only to ease off in the second half. This saw Samoa fighting back from 27 points down. They came close but, ultimately, Los Pumitas won by eleven points.
The result for Samoa is relegation. The Pacific Islanders will play in the 2018 Junior World Trophy. Argentina’s final play of 11th is a record-equalling low. The team finished 11th in 2009 in Japan. Since then Los Pumitas have finished 3rd, 4th, 6th and 9th.
SCORERS
ARGENTINA
Try: J González, Delguy (2), L González (2), Albornoz, Malano
Conversion: Albornoz (6)
Penalty: Albornoz (2)
SAMOA
Try: Paisami (2), Enoka, Moore, Fonoti, Pohla
Conversion: Paisami (5), Tinei
ARGENTINA
1 Santiago Pulella, 2 José Luis González, 3 Alejandro Luna, 4 Nahuel Milan, 5 Lucas Paulos, 6 Bautista Stavile, 7 Agustín Medrano, 8 Nicolás Walker, 9 Matías Sauze, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 11 Luciano González, 12 Teo Castiglioni, 13 Felipe Freyre, 14 Tomás Malanos (Capt.), 15 Bautista Delguy
SAMOA
1 Setu Enoka, 2 Petalo Etemani Ikenasio, 3 Suetena Asomua, 4 Theodore Solipo, 5 Peato Toeafe, 6 Wyatt Setu, 7 Caleb Faalili, 8 Tuipolotu, 9 Pupi Ah See, 10 Foaese, 11 Losi Filipo, 12 Tanielu Telea, 13 Hunter Paisami, 14 Darren Moore, 15 Alesana Pohla
