Selknam feast on Cobras to storm back into play-offs contention

Selknam enjoyed a feast of Cobras on Saturday. Played in Curicó, Selknam completed a 33-17 bonus point win. The result sees the Chileans storming back into play-off’s contention.

The match was a must-win for both Selknam and Os Cobras. Two of the four spots have already been claimed; Peñarol and Los Dogos are assured of playing in the final four. Los Pampas are in third and are well-placed.

Selknam entered their home match at the Estadio La Granja de Curicó in 5th placed behind Yacare. The win over Os Cobras now puts pressure on Yacare who face the American Raptors in Denver, Colorado on Sunday.

Not only did Selknam claim the win over Os Cobras, the Chileans also secured a bonus point and prevented Os Cobras from scoring any.

Selknam won by 16 points and outscored Os Cobras by five tries to two. The first try came early. Returning from flanker to the second-row, Clemente Saavedra came away with the opening score. The push-over try was converted by Francisco Urroz.

Lucas Tranquez responded for Os Cobras. The visiting captain landed a penalty. It was the closest Os Cobras would come to catching Selknam all match. The second quarter started with Joaquín Milesi over for Selknam’s second. He touched down after the Chileans had gone through the phases close to the try zone.

Before the game got away from Os Cobras the Brazilian side went over. Hooker Endy Willian Pinheiro broke off a maul to catch Urroz by surprise and score. The Chileans were not impressed. They responded swiftly and did so with vengeance. The forwards won a penalty try for a commanding half-time lead.

Selknam also outscored Os Cobras in the second-half. The Chileans touched down twice in the try zone while the Brazilian side did so once. First up was Selknam’s bonus point try. Replacement hooker Augusto Bohme went over for close range from a rolling-maul.

Os Cobras responded six minutes later. Henrique Ferreira’s try set-up an interesting final quarter. Selknam recovered from the lapse of concentration to score again and guarantee victory. Vittorio Lastra’s try was the final score of the evening.

Both teams will return to action next weekend. Selknam travel to Buenos Aires to face Los Pampas on Friday. Os Cobras return to São Paulo to face reigning champions Peñarol next Saturday.

 

SCORING

SELKNAM (33)
Try – C Saavedra (4′); J Milesi (21′); Penalty Try (36′); A Bohme (52′); V Lastra (71′)
Con – F Urroz 3/4 (5′, 22′); No Kick (36′)

COBRAS (17)
Try – E Willian Pinheiro (31′); H Ferreira (58′)
Con – L Tranquez 2/2 (32′, 59′)
Pen – L Tranquez 1/2 (9′)
YC – C Dias (36′); E Willian Pinheiro (68′)

 

TEAMS

SELKNAM
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Esteban Inostroza, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Pablo Huete, 6 Alfonso Escobar, 7 Ignacio Silva, 8 Joaquín Milesi, 9 Lukas Carvallo, 10 Francisco Urroz, 11 José Ignacio Larenas, 12 Pablo Casas, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Gaspar Moltedo, 15 Santiago Videla (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Augusto Bohme, 17 Vittorio Lastra, 18 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Raimundo Martínez, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 Nicolás Herreros, 23 Santiago Edwards

COBRAS
1 Levy Marinho, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 3 Bautista Vidal, 4 Gabriel Paganini (capt.), 5 Lucio Anconetani, 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Facundo Villalba, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Ariel Rodrigues, 12 Robert Tenório, 13 Victor Silva, 14 Alain Altahona, 15 Lucas Tranquez

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Silva, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Henrique Ferreira, 19 Ben Donald, 20 Adrio de Melo, 21 Donnacha Byrne, 22 Douglas Rauth, 23 Robson Morais

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (AR)
Assistant Referees: Juan Manuel Martínez (AR); Raimundo Fuenzalida (CL)
TMO: Ignacio Calle (CL)