Uruguay too much for Hong Kong

Uruguay put their best possible foot forward to salvage a spot in the World Rugby u20 Trophy Final as they outclassed Hong Kong by a score of 66-10 at the Estadio Domingo Burgueño on Wednesday. The Teritos racked up 10 tries all told to only one solitary act of consolation for their opponents in the dying moments of the match.

It was Hong Kong who got on the board first through a well-struck penalty from fullback Matt Worley. Uruguay responded rapidly, however, with Agustín Della Corte diving over for the first of two tries on the day for the captain. James McCubbin went over just after the 20 minute mark with Alejo Piazza adding both conversions to make it just 14-3 at halftime.

The second act told a completely different story. Uruguay were temporarily shorthanded after Valentín Grille committed a dangerous tackle on an airborne opponent, but when the winger returned the Teritos ran rampant.

Four tries in eight minutes on the back of a relentless scrum decimated Hong Kong’s morale. Martín Fitipaldo, McCubbin with a second, Manuel Leindekar, and Della Corte with his double took the result beyond doubt.

Four more would come in the final quarter. Juan Francisco Medeiros, Joaquín García, Grille, and finally Manuel Portela crossed to put the seal on a clinical team performance. Hong Kong’s lone try went to industrious No 8 Max Denmark but it was only academic.

The Teritos now await the result of Fiji’s match against Portugal to learn their fate. For Uruguay to advance the Islanders must prevail. If Portugal win, Uruguay will instead contest 3rd overall on Sunday. Hong Kong will play Canada to decide 7th place after the latter’s crushing loss to Chile earlier in the day.

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 66
Tries – A. Della Corte 2 (11’, 59’), J. McCubbin 2 (22’, 53’), M. Fitipaldo (51’), M. Leindekar (56’), J. Medeiros (67’), J. García (71’), V. Grille (74’), M. Portela (80’)
Cons – A. Piazza 7/9 (12’, 23’, 54’, 57’, 60’, 68’, 71’), J. Medeiros 1/1 (80’)
Yellow cards – V. Grille (41’)

HONG KONG 10
Tries – M. Denmack (78’)
Cons – M. Worley 1/1 (79’)
Pens – M. Worley 1/1 (7’)

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY
1 Agustín Sosa, 2 Matías Aboy, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Lukas Bergengruen, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Martín Darracq, 7 James McCubbin, 8 Santiago Civetta, 9 Joaquín Freitas, 10 Juan Martín Cattivelli, 11 Martín Fitipaldo, 12 Agustín Della Corte (capt.), 13 Marcos Pastore, 14 Valentin Grille, 15 Alejo Piazza

Replacements: 16 Yamandú Arburúas, 17 Guillermo Pujadas, 18 Joaquín García, 19 Manuel Ardao, 20 Manuel Portela, 21 Juan Nicola, 22 Juan Francisco Medeiros

HONG KONG
1 Ken Encarnacion, 2 Jack Scanlon, 3 Lachlan Oliver-Kerby, 4 Zach Baldwin, 5 Jake Barlow, 6 Gregor Ramage, 7 Olly Overman, 8 Max Denmark, 9 Mark Coebergh (capt.), 10 Paul Altier, 11 Oliver Duffy, 12 Cameron Smith, 13 James Karton, 14 Marcus Ramage, 15 Matt Worley

Replacements: 16 Ho-Ming Wong, 17 Mikkel Christensen, 18 Thomas Gibb, 19 Kin-San Tsoi, 20 Henry Poon, 21 Thaddeus Summers, 22 Jack Abbott

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Maxime Burlet (FBRB)
Assistants: Tornike Gvirjishvili (GRU) & Ionut Bodea (FRR)