Peñarol down Selknam in nail-biter to remain unbeaten

Peñarol downed Selknam this afternoon, winning a nail-biter 26-22 in Santiago. The result maintains Peñarol’s unbeaten record in the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). After four rounds Peñarol are 4-0. Selknam are now 2-2.

The match had the intensity of test rugby; it may have been a sign of things to come in the RWC 2023 qualifiers. In terms of tries, Peñarol were out scored by Selknam by three tries to two. Peñarol won by scoring an early try and then building on it throughout. In continuing his strong form in SLAR, Argentine fly half Martín Roger kicked 16 points.

Peñarol’s two tries came near the two extremes of the match. Both were converted by Roger and both were scored by flanker Manuel Ardao. Selknam hit-back on both occasions.

The match was a physical battle throughout. This resulted in penalties being awarded to both teams and also yellow cards. Peñarol was able to convert more penalties into points. Roger slotted five penalties, four more than those of Patricio Boronio. In short, goal-kicking was ultimately decisive in the outcome.

Selknam now turn their attention to Os Cobras. The Chilean vs Brazilian franchise battle will be a key battle in round five. The same applies to Peñarol’s opposition. The Uruguayan franchise will face Los Jaguares XV. Round five will be played on Sunday, April 04.

SCORING

SELKNAM 22
Try: M Garafulic 10′, N Garafulic 60′ Martínez 78′
Conversion: Baronio 61′, 79′
Penalty: Boronio 64′
Yellow Card: Saavedra 35′, Dittus 55′

PEÑAROL 26
Try: Ardao 4′, 72′
Conversion: Roger 5′, 73′
Penalty: Roger 13′ 30′, 49′, 56′ 67′
Yellow Card: Echeverría 31′

SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Augusto Bohme, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren, 7 Ignacio Silva (capt.), 8 Santiago Portillo, 9 Patricio Boronio, 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Maximilano Filizzola, 12 Franco Velarde, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Matías Garafulic, 15 Rodrigo Fernández

Replacements: 16 Raimundo Martínez, 17 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 18 Salvador Lues, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Nicolás Garafulic, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 Ignacio Albornoz, 23 Alfonso Escobar

PEÑAROL
1 Juan Echeverría, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Nahuel Milan, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Manuel Nogúes, 10 Martín Roger, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Rodrigo Silva, 15 José Iruleguy

Replacements: 16 Ezequiel Ramos, 17 Facundo Pomponio, 18 Matías Benítez, 19 Eric do Santos, 20 Carlos Deus, 21 Marcos Chamyan, 22 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 23 Mateo Viñals