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An outstanding performance from Uruguay has seen Los Teritos booking their spot in the Junior World Trophy Final. Uruguay completed an historic 37-26 win over Scotland on Tuesday.
Uruguay will face Spain in the final. The teams won their respective pools and will now battle-it-out in the final. Spain defeated Samoa 28-10 to top their pool. The winner of the Junior World Trophy will earn promotion to the 2024 Junior World Championship.
Uruguay had an excellent start against Scotland. After having missing an early penalty, fullback Juan Carlos Canessa helped create the opening try. Canessa provided the assist pass for Pedro Brum to score in the 5th minute. Vanessa converted for a 7-0 lead.
A second kick successful at goal from Canessa took the lead to 10-0 late in the opening quarter. Scotland responded through second-rower Eddie Erskine. he went from hero to villain quickly as he was yellow carded.
Los Teritos made good use of their one-man advantage. Uruguay attacked from a lineout with hooker Maximo Lamelas touching down in the try zone. Before Erskine returned, the South Americans scored further points. Fly half Icaro Amarillo gathered a goal-line dropout and slotted a drop-goal from half-way.
Now down 20-7, Scotland needed to respond. Corey Tait scored from a lineout maul move with Ben Afshar converting despite his kick striking the uprights. Uruguay then found themselves a man dow. Lamelas was yellow carded just before half-time. The South Americans managed to hold on despite the disadvantage.
Los Teritos looked dangerous and capitalized. Center Guillermo Juan Storace broke through and combined with Canessa. The fullback then provided his second try assist of the match. He put Juan Gonzalez into a scoring position from which the winger showed excellent vision and finishing to score.
Scotland hit-back with Tait scoring his second try. Afshar missed the conversion and Uruguay then went 11 points up when Canessa slotted a penalty from long-range. It means Uruguay held a 30-19 lead late in the third quarter.
Los Teritos were again a mandolin, however. With replacement Francisco Garcia yellow carded, Erskine went over for the Northern British side. Afshar then landed the conversion to make it a 4 point deficit.
Storace showed his desire for higher honors as he scored an impressive try. He broke through the defense sandpit on the after-burners to score himself. Canessa landed the conversion to see Uruguay back to an eleven point lead. It remained as such as Los Teritos celebrated a famous win over a Tier 1 opponent.
