Cobras defeat Cafeteros Pro to avoid wooden spoon

Os Cobras Brasil XV defeated Los Cafeteros Pro today. The round nine win was sufficient for the Brazilian side to avoid the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby wooden spoon. The 22-14 win was Os Cobras’ second win of the SLAR season. Their earlier win was also against the Colombian franchise.

In a game of two halves, Os Cobras were 19-0 up at half-time. From there Los Cafeteros Pro outscored the Brazilians 14-3. Os Cobras were both on top and in control of play throughout the first half. They scored three tries, all of which were a combination of skills and team efforts.

The first to score was Daniel Sancery. The regular fullback played the match on the right wing. His 9th minute try saw him finishing off a break and showing good speed to get around and dot down in the right corner. Joshua Reeves landed the sideline conversion.

The two remaining Cobras tries also came in the firt half; however, unlike the first they were all about the forwards. Second-rower Gabriel Paganini went over from an attacking lineout and subsequent maul. Then, Os Cobras’ tournament MVP, André Arruda touched down under the posts to end Os Cobras’ impressive opening half.

The job had been done, albeit there was still plenty to play for. One more try would mean a bonus poing for Os Cobras. It did not eventutate. Instead Los Cafeteros Pro scored both second half tries. The first save Facundo Ferrario in from fullback in a shove forwad that any hooker would be proud of. Nicolás Roger’s conversion made it a 19-7 scoreline.

Los Cafeteros Pro’s second try provided Os Cobras with a late scare. Replacement prop Javier Corvalán scored in the 71st minute. Gonzalo García’s conversion made it a five point game; one more try would see the teams level.

Center Moisés Duque landed a penalty in the final minute to put Os Cobras beyond the seven point threshold. The goal also denied Los Cafeteros Pro of a losing bonus point.

SCORING

CAFETEROS PRO 14
Try: Ferrario 42′ Corvalán 71′
Conversion: Roger 43′ García 72′
Yellow Card: Ortíz 5′, Simes 32′

COBRAS 22
Try: D Sancery 9′, Paganini 20′, Arruda 39′
Conversion: Reeves 10′, Giudice 40′
Penalty: Duque 80′

TEAMS

CAFETEROS PRO
1 Yani Pérez, 2 Jorge Álvarez, 3 Brayan Pérez, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Danny Giraldo, 6 Diver Ceballos, 7 Enzo Ocampo, 8 Gerson Ortíz, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Nicolás Roger, 11 Alejandro Navarro, 12 Tomás García, 13 Santiago Resino, 14 Jhon Arley Urrutia, 15 Facundo Ferrario

Replacements: 16 Agustín Acosta, 17 Javier Corvalán, 18 Diego Posada, 19 Jhon Álvarez, 20 Felipe Puertas, 21 Jhojan Ortíz, 22, Julián Navarro, 23 Tomás Etcheverry

COBRAS
1 Caique Silva, 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Alejandro Luna, 4 Manuel Bernstein, 5 Gabriel Paganini, 6 Cléber Días, 7 Adrio de Melo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Felipe Cunha, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Gabriel Quirino, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 Daniel Sancery, 15 Franco Giudice

Replacements 16 Leonardo de Souza, 17 Leonel Moreno, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Matheus Cláudio, 20 Arthur Bergo, 21 Laurent Bourda Couhet, 22 Moisés Duque, 23 Lucas Spago

Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)