Uruguay too strong for Zimbabwe in u20 series

Uruguay continued their dominance at the u20 series in Canada as they overwhelmed Zimbabwe by a score of 35-12 at Guelph University on Thursday. The strength of the Teritos set piece proved too much for the Junior Sables.

It didn’t take long for the Uruguayan pack to make an impression. Penalties moved them into position and the pressure stayed on until flanker Juan Ignacio Cambón crashed over from close range. Javier Garese was on target with the conversion.

A set move at a lineout sent No8 Pedro Marsico barreling over the gainline to put the Sables on the back foot. Garese then found right winger Juan González unmarked to slide over for the second try at the 20-minute mark.

Marsico himself got on the board before halftime. The driving maul advanced so quickly that hooker Joaquín Myszka had no time to join at the back and it was the loose forward who instead fell over the line for the credit. Garese had no trouble converting to give Los Teritos a 21-nil lead at the break.

The Junior Sables showed improvement in the second half. Their scrum, which had been dominated earlier, held long enough for Rua Karimazondo to break from the back. One quick recycle later and Tavonga Ablant was in for his fourth try in two games. Benjamin Pattenden’s conversion attempt was pushed just right of the posts.

Zimbabwe held on valiantly but eventually the Teritos pack wore them down. A penalty try was awarded in the 69th minute for a scrum collapse. Replacement prop Farai Madzima was singled out and handed a yellow card, leaving the Junior Sables down a man for the next 10 minutes.

Both teams would score in the closing minutes. Zimbabwe through caution to the wind and Pattenden would cross on a quick tap, immediately dropping over the conversion. Los Teritos would have the final say. After calling for a scrum on a penalty in stoppage time, the initial drive was just short but Cambón was there again to burrow in for his double.

The series concludes next Tuesday when Zimbabwe take on Chile and Uruguay face hosts Canada.

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 35
Tries – J. Cambón 2 (4′, 80’+2′), J. González (20′), P. Marsico (35′), Penalty try (69′)
Cons – J. Garese 4/4 (5′, 21′, 36′, 80’+3′), No kick (69′)

ZIMBABWE 12
Tries – T. Ablant (50′), B. Pattenden (76′)
Cons – B. Pattenden 1/2 (76′)
YC – F. Madzima (69′)

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY u20
1 Juan Pedro Lorenzo, 2 Joaquín Myszka (capt.), 3 Juan Bautista Zerbino, 4 Facundo Rizzo, 5 Manuel Rosmarino, 6 Juan Ignacio Cambón, 7 Juan Martín David, 8 Pedro Marsico, 9 Joaquín Suárez, 10 Javier Garese, 11 Nicolás Conti, 12 Guillermo Juan Storace, 13 Simón Galperín, 14 Juan González, 15 Gonzalo Jodal

Replacements: 16 Francisco García, 17 Ignacio Rua, 18 Agustín Méndez, 19 Mateo Barreiro, 20 Iñaki Echeverrigaray, 21 Augusto Paullier, 22 Bautista Araújo, 23 José Pedro Perrone

ZIMBABWE u20
1 Martin Hakungavanhu, 2 Marlon Guwuriro, 3 Nqobile Manyara, 4 Simbarashe Siraha, 5 Tanaka Gondomukandapi, 6 Andrew Rinomhota, 7 Tendai Chinyama, 8 Rua Karimazondo, 9 Panashe Zuze, 10 Benjamin Pattenden, 11 Liberty Sibanda, 12 Dion Khumalo, 13 Carl Kawodza (capt.), 14 Emmanuel Farawu, 15 Tavonga Ablant

Replacements: 16 Tawanda Banda, 17 Farai Madzima, 18 Tanaka Ndoro, 19 Denzel Maramba, 20 Muzuva Gutu, 21 Tanaka Ndabambi, 22 Alex Nyamunda, 23 Tariro Tapfuma

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Frank Méndez (Chile)