Dogos and Peñarol put on a Thriller in Córdoba

Los Dogos and Peñarol played out a thriller at Tala Rugby Club in Córdoba. It was intense at times and the rugby played was marvelous. Peñarol came back from a third quarter deficit to win 41-35.

The early minutes saw Peñarol dominating. It took just two minutes for the Uruguayans to run in their opening try. Scrum-half Santiago Álvarez touched down in the try zone. Felipe Etcheverry added the conversion.

Peñarol were in again six minutes later. Juan Manuel Alonso went over for his first of two opening half tries. Peñarol were 12-0 ahead after Etcheverry missed his conversion attempt.

Los Dogos hit-back through their vice-captain. Julián Hernández landed a 13th minute penalty before the one-stop action resumed. Ernesto Guidice guided over for the opening try for Los Dogos. It was the only conquista of the first half-for the Argentines.

Julián Hernández followed up Guidice’s try with a penalty before Peñarol struck back. Former Toronto Arrows N8 Manuel Diana powered over for the first of his two tries while Alonso scored his second seven minutes later. The half closed with Peñarol leading 24-11.

Los Dogos turned the game on its head after half-time. In a pulsating opening to the second half, the Córdoba side ran in three tries in five minutes. It was a mixture of brilliance and brute force. Julián Hernández  used good foot work to score first then Román Pretz showed his strength, to give Los Dogos the lead, while Agustín Moyano’s vision put them 32-24 ahead.

A 54th minute Etcheverry penalty put Peñarol back to within one score. From there the Uruguayans regained the lead to win impressively. Following multiple phases Diana powered over for a decisive try. Etcheverry converted to level the scores.

Los Dogos lost two forwards to yellow cards in quick succession. Meanwhile, Peñarol captain Manuel Ardao brilliantly caught an overthrown Dogos lineout and ran in for a try 8 minute from full-time.

Both teams had one final opportunity each for a try. Los Dogos opted for a penalty shot at goal with time-up. Hernández made no mistake to end the match with a bonus point defeat for the home side.

Los Dogos now turn their attention from Uruguay to Chile. They face Selknam next Friday in Córdoba. Peñarol travel to São Paulo to face Os Cobras on Saturday.

 

SCORING

DOGOS (35)
Try – E Guidice (20′); J Hernández (46′); R Pretz (49′); A Moyano (51′)
Con – J Hernández 3 (46′, 50′, 52′)
Pen – J Hernández 3 (13′, 26′, 80′)
YC – G Hernández (67′); B Wenger (68′)

 

PENAROL (41)
Try – S Álvarez (2′); JM Alonso 2 (8′, 38′); M Diana 2 (31′, 67′); M Ardao (70′)
Con – F Etcheverry 4 (3′, 32′, 68′, 72′)
Pen – F Etcheverry (54′)
YC – L Bianchi (26′); G Pujadas (51′); T Inciarte (73′)

 

TEAMS

DOGOS
1 Mateo Nuñez, 2 Román Pretz, 3 Ramiro Valdes, 4 Gregorio Hernández, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Efraín Elías, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Agustín Moyano, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Valentín Soler, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Ernesto Giudice , 15 Mateo Soler

Replacements: 16 Tomás Bartolini, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Octavio Filippa, 19 Federico Albrisi, 20 Juan Bautista Mernes, 21 Juan Cruz Strada, 22 Juan Bautista Baronio, 23 Mariano García Ascárate

 

PENAROL
1 Matías Benítez, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Ignacio Peculo, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Felipe Aliaga, 6 Manuel Ardao (capt.), 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Juan Manuel Alonso, 12 Guillermo Juan Storace, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Alfonso Silva, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Replacements: 16  Emiliano Faccennini, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Diego Arbelo, 19 Agustín Morales, 20 Carlos Deus, 21 Eric Dosantos, 22 Juan Francisco Torres, 23 Juan Andrés Zuccarino

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (AR)
Assistant Referees: Luca Solda (AR); Juan Manuel López (AR)
TMO: Marcelo Pilara (AR)