Cobras Find Winning Formula Against Olímpia Lions

Os Cobras are smiling. The Brazilians were 36-25 winners over the Olímpia Lions on Tuesday. The result was the first win of SLAR 2022 for Os Cobras. The win came with a second half onslaught; four quick-fire tries turned around the scoreline and the outcome was secured.

In a match with eight tries scored, the Brazilians claimed five of them. The first took place at the close of the first half. Before then the Olímpia Lions had scored twice. The first was scored by Juan González. He finished off a tremendous charge forward from a rolling-maul.

The second score was unlike the first. This time it was flair from the backs and a kick through. The chase was won with ease by Julián Quetglas. Sebastián Urbeita was one from two at converting the tries. At this point in the match, though, the Olímpia Lions appeared in control as they held a 12-3 lead.

Os Cobras responded to close out the first half with a try. André Arruda went into the try zone for his first of what was a double for the match. Lucas Tranquez landed the conversion to make the half-time setting very different than what it had loomed as being just minutes before.

Arruda’s second try did not take long. Four minutes after the resumption, Arruda touched down again. His score gave Os Cobras the lead. From there they put together their best rugby of SLAR 2022 with three further quick scores. First, Daniel Sancery rounded off a team try out wide. Second, Arruda broke before recycled ball found Cléber Días who monstered ahead to score. Third, Bautista Santamarina broke clear and passed for Robert Tenório to score.

Os Cobras win was historic. It was more than their first win of SLAR 2022, it was their first against the Olímpia Lions. The Paraguayans went into the match with a 3-0 record. The match earlier this season was won 42-17 by the Olímpia Lions while the 2021 results were 19-15 and 44-8.

Os Cobras will close out their SLAR 2022 season against Los Jaguares XV. The Olímpia Lions face Los Cafeteros Pro. Both teams now have four recovery days before the matches on Sunday.

 

SCORING

COBRAS (36)
Try – A Arruda 2 (39′, 44′), D Sancery (51′), C Días (60′), R Tenório (63′)
Con – L Tranquez 4/5 (40′, 45′, 61′, 64′)
Pen – L Tranquez 1/1 (18′)
YC – W Endy (23′)

OLÍMPIA LIONS (25)
Try – J González (27′), J Quetglas (30′), E Gorostiaga (77′)
Con – S Urbieta 1/3 (32′)
Pen – S Urbieta 1/1 (54′)
YC – N Hogg (38′)

TEAMS

COBRAS
1 Brendon Alves, 2 Endy Willian, 3 Henrique Ribeiro, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Kauã de Oliveira, 6 Cléber Días, 7 Adrio Luiz, 8 André Arruda, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Joel dos Santos, 13 Robert Tenório, 14 Daniel Sancery (capt.), 15 Lucas Tranquez

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Souza, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Joel Ramírez, 19 Matheus Cláudio, 20 Devon Muller, 21 Rafael Spago, 22 Bautista Santamarina, 23 Pedro Goulart

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Manuel Stuchetti, 2 Juan Ignacio Sánchez, 3 Franco Giacoppo, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Agustín Toth, 6 Federico Simondi, 7 Ariel Nuñez, 8 Mariano Romanini, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe (capt.), 10 Nicolás Hogg, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Francisco Díez, 14 Agustín Córtes, 15 Julián Quetglas

Replacements: 16 Emilio Gorostiaga, 17 Luis Enrique Quinteros, 18 Rolando Portillo, 19 Álvaro Biscay, 20 Lautaro Britez, 21 Facundo Villalba, 22 Gianfranco Parodi, 23 Ramiro Amarilla

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Juan Manuel León (Colombia)
Assistant Referees: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina); Simón Larrubia (Argentina)
TMO: Frank Méndez (Chile)