Olímpia Lions stun Selknam in major SLAR upset

History has been made; the Olímpia Lions defeated Selknam in a major Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) upset. The Paraguayan side stunned the Chileans, completing a 24-21 win this evening in Montevideo. El Tucumano Máximo Ledesma was the man of the match, kicking all 24 points for the Olímpia Lions.

Ledesma’s boot was the only point-scorer of the first half. He landed four first half penalties to give the Olímpia Lions a 12-0 half-time lead. One of the kicks bounced over after having landed on top of the cross-bar. The penalties were the result of tireless efforts from all fifteen Lions on the field.

Selknam started the second half with a bang. The Chilean side crossed for two early second half scores. Scrum-half Patricio Boronio scored from a quick tap-penalty and outside center Domingo Saavedra went over with the Selknam forwards having done the hard yards. Santiago Videla converted both to give Selknam a 14-12 lead in the 49th minute.

The match was alive; both teams were in a winnable position. There was one further try in the game; Raimundo Martínez went over for Selknam with five minutes remaining. The match, however, was won through penalties. Ledesma matched his first half effort to land four more in the second half.

The result sees the Olímpia Lions gaining four competition points and Selknam one. More impoirtantly, it puts the Paraguayan side nine points clear of Os Cobras Brasil XV. With an eye to the play-offs, the Olímpia Lions now have one foot in the door.

Os Cobras are next up for the Olímpia Lions. Their round eight match on Wednesday looms as a crucial fixture. Selknam, menawhile, will face the unbeaten Jaguares XV.

SCORING

OLÍMPIA LIONS
Penalties: Ledesma 3′, 14′, 19′, 25′, 53′, 56′, 66′, 79′

SELKNAM
Tries: Boronio 44′, D Saavedra 48′, Martínez 75′
Conversions: Videla 45′, 49′, 76′
Yellow Cards: Filizzola 28′, Portillo 69′

TEAMS

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Martín Sitjar, 2 Mariano Muntaner, 3 Rodrigo Martínez, 4 Carlos Repetto, 5 Mariano Garcete, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Matías Gómez Vara, 8 Marcos Riquelme, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe, 10 Máximo Ledesma, 11 Renato Cardona, 12 Sebastian Urbieta, 13 Diego Argaña, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Martín Bogado

Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Luis Enrique Quinteros, 19 Carlos Plate, 2o Lucas Santa Cruz, 21 Joaquín Pellandini, 22 Rodrigo Gómez Vara, 23 Marcelo Matiuada

SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Augusto Bohme, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Santiago Portillo, 5 Clemente Saavedra, 6 Alfonso Escobar, 8 Ignacio Silva (capt.), 9 Patricio Baronio, 10 Ignacio Albornoz, 11 Franco Velarde, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Matías Garafulic, 15 Maximilano Filizzola

Replacements: 16 Raimundo Martínez, 17 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 18 Salvador Lues, 19 Tomás Orchard, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 José Larenas, 23 Lucca Avelli

Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)