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Buenos Aires clubs Hindú and Alumni are to contest to URBA Top 12 Final. They earned the right to do so this weekend by winning their respective Semi Finals.
Hindú booked the first spot in the 2017 Final on Saturday. The Don Torcuato side completed a 28-22 win over Pucará. The result means Hindú are into the final for an amazing sixth consecutive year.
The club did so with a deep roster, particularly in the backline. Rugby World Cup 2007, 2011 and 2015 winger Horacio Agulla played on the right wing. 2003 and 2007 center Hernán Senillosa started in the mid-field and 2011 fly half, Santiago Fernández played outside center. 2017 Jaguares Felipe Ezcurra and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla played in the halves. In the pack Argentina XV captain Lautaro Bavaro started, playing flanker.
Pucará brought notable names of their own to the Semi Final. Rugby World Cup 2011 hero winger Lucas González Amorosino played at fly half. Manuel Montero played on the left wing, Argentina XV center Juan Cappiello played in the mid-field and future test fullback, Bautista Delguy started at the back.
Bonilla Díaz had a strong opening half performance. He landed two penalties and converted his team’s try which was scored by Ezcurra. With it Hindú were 18-6 ahead at half time.
In the second half Pucará came close to catching Hindú. Díaz Bonilla was again key for his club. He landed a penalty and converted his own try. Delguy went over for an impressive score for Pucará. A late penalty from González Amorosino brought Pucará back to within one score but with time running out it was insufficient.
In the second Semi Final Alumni downed SIC. The 23-20 win came with Alumni scoring all of the second half points. SIC had been 20-17 ahead at half time but two second half penalties kicked by Lucas Frana put Alumni into the final.
SIC brought with them a number of notable players within Argentine rugby. Los Pumas 7’s star Rodrigo Etchart played on the wing and former Puma Benjamín Madero was fly half. Alumni played with the highly promising back-rowers Santiago Montagner and Mariano Romainini.
Also involved for Alumni was Los Pumas 7’s player Franco Sábato and fringe-Jaguar Gaspar Bandunciel. They played at outside center and hooker respectively.
