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A stunning second-half showing took Selknam to a 41-19 victory over the Olímpia Lions on Saturday in Montevideo. The Chileans rebounded from a half-time deficit to end the contest with an impressive bonus point win.
In the first half not only did the Olímpia Lions outscore Selknam on the scorecard, they also did so in the try column. Following an early penalty from Francisco Urroz, the Olímpia Lions hit-back with a try. Ignacio Inchauspe ran in a great solo try, doing so after a kick from Marcelo Torrealba went out on the full. Such errors will not be tolerable in Chile’s RWC qualifiers against the USA.
Selknam responded through their forwards. Hooker Tomás Dussaillant powered over into the try zone for the Chilean side. The celebrations were short lived as Mariano Garcete responded to give the Olímpia Lions their second try and a deserved lead.
The 14-10 half time scoreline resulted in a fired-up Selknam coming back on to the field with a purpose. The forwards went about winning in the contact area while the backs looked to play more expansive when outside of their own 22.
The approach brought results as Selknam ran in four second half tries. The France-bound Matías Dittus claimed the first of them. Another followed only to be disallowed following consultation with the TMO.
When Domingo Saavedra ran in it appeared that the result was sealed. The center’s try was again converted as Selknam were now in the clear. Replacement Vittorio Lastra powered over from close range to give Selknam the bonus point while winger Nicolás Garafulic went over minutes later as Selknam were in complete control leading 41-14.
A late score from Agustín Toth saw the replacement second-rower making up for his earlier yellow card. It was unconverted from wide as there Olímpia Lions finished the second half with five points while conceding 31.
The result temporarily moves Selknam to the top of the SLAR 2022 table. They join Peñarol on 19 points. Los Jaguares XV are next on 18. Both teams play later today. Next up for Selknam is the bottom of the table Os Cobras while the Olímpia Lions will face Los Jaguares XV. Both fixtures will take place next Friday in Montevideo.
SCORING
OLÍMPIA LIONS 19
Try – I Inchauspe (19′), M Garcete (31′), A Toth (79′)
Con – D Walter 2/3 (20′, 32′)
Pen – D Walter 0/1
YC – A Toth 56′
SELKNAM 41
Try – T Dussaillant (24′), M Dittus (56′), D Saavedra (63′), V Lastra (68′), N Garafulic (72′)
Con – F Urroz 4/4 (25′, 57′, 64′, 69′); J Zuccarino 1/1 (73′)
Pen – F Urroz 2/3 (9′, 50′)
TEAMS
OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Daniel Cabral, 2 Mariano Muntaner, 3 Luis Enrique Quinteros, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Mariano Garcete, 6 Ariel Núñez, 7 Ignacio Gandini (capt.), 8 Mariano Romanini, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Ignacio González, 12 Estanislao Arrias, 13 Francisco Díez, 14 Julián Quetglas, 15 Diego Walter
Replacements: 16 Emilio Gorostiaga, 17 Manuel Stuchetti, 18 Estéfano Aranda, 19 Agustín Toth, 20 Álvaro Biscay, 21 Facundo Vilalba, 22 Nicolás Hogg, 23 Gianfranco Parodi
SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Augusto Sarmiento, 6 Martín Sigren, 7 Ignacio Silva (capt.), 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Francisco Urroz, 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 José Larenas, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Nicolás Garafulic, 15 Luca Strabucchi
Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Vittorio Lastra, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Santiago Edwards, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 Gaspar Moltedo, 23 Juan Zuccarino
