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Yacare are a team going places. The Paraguayan professional rugby team were impressive 41-24 winners. Peñarol’s first half performance ranks as probably the worst ever by the Uruguayans since Super Rugby Americas / Súper Liga Americana de Rugby began.
Having defeated Os Cobras by a record 51-07 scoreline six days earlier, Yacare were even better in Montevideo on Friday evening. A dominant display had Yacare leading by a remarkable 31-0 after 38 minutes of play.
Peñarol fought back in the second-half to outscore Yacare 24-10. However, the Uruguayan’s second-half showing was about regaining some pride rather than competing for an unlikely come-from-behind victory.
The flying Yacare start saw Argentine flanker Felipe Puertas over in the 4th minute. Fellow flanker Juan Cruz Rachel Pérez punished an unprotected ruck to score try number two three minutes later. Joaquín Lamas’s goal-kicking was accurate early on as Yacare powered to a 14-0 lead after seven minutes.
Yacares dominance continued. The score went to 19-0 with winger Arturo López crossing. The heads of the shocked Peñarol players were down with Yacare having humbled them at their own home ground.
The second quarter opened with what now seemed inevitable: Yacare scored again to claim the bonus point. Former Dogos scrum-half Juan Cruz Strada linked with Felipe Puertas from a dominant Yacare scrum to get past three defenders for the try.
Peñarol finally got on the scoreboard in the 38th minute; yet, it was not for the right reasons. Prop Mathias Franco was yellow carded by referee Nehuén Jauri Rivero. The Uruguayan prop’s offense had prevented a certain try. Yacare thus got a penalty try and Peñarol were down to 14 men for 10 minutes.
The disadvantage was quickly leveled out as Felipe Puertas was yellow carded following a string of Yacare penalties. Second-rower Juan Manuel Rodríguez scored from a lineout to maul move on the stroke of half-time.
Peñarol opened the second-half scoring. The Uruguayans were rewarded a penalty try and this time Ezequiel Reyes was yellow carded. With a player down, Yacare took the points on offer with Lamas landing a 53rd minute penalty.
Despite conceding three points, Peñarol were now on top and determined to score again. Winger Dante Soto scored after N8 Manuel Diana had attacked from a scrum.
Soto’s opposite, Juan González, canceled it out with a try of his own before Peñarol captain Santiago Civetta scored with one minute remaining. Civetta’s try meant Peñarol secured a bonus point. One competition point was consolation for Peñarol; Yacare return home with 5 points.
| SCORING |
PENAROL (24)
Tries (3) – JM Rodriguez (40′); Penalty Try (50′); D Soto (58′); S Civetta (79′)
Con (1/3) – JA Zuccarino (40′); No Kick (50′)
YC (2) – M Franco (37′); J Myszka (54′)
YACARE (41)
Tries (6) – F Puertas (4′), JC Pérez Rachel (7′), A López (12′), JC Strada (23′), Penalty Try (37′); J González (74′)
Con (2/4) – J Lamas (5′, 8′, 74′); No Kick (37′)
Pen (1/1) – J Lamas (53′)
YC (3) – F Puertas (38′); E Reyes (50′); A Zapata (64′)
| LINEUPS |
PENAROL
1 Mateo Perillo, 2 Joaquin Myszka, 3 Mathias Franco, 4 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 5 Agustín Morales, 6 Santiago Civetta (capt.), 7 Carlos Deus, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Ícaro Amarillo, 11 Dante Soto, 12 Juan Andrés Zuccarino, 13 Juan Manuel Alonso, 14 Koba Brazionis, 15 Juan Bautista Hontou
Replacements: 16 Francisco García, 17 Mateo Sanguinetti, 18 Santiago Martirene, 19 Manuel Rosmarino, 20 Lucas Bianchi, 21 Pedro Hoblog, 22 Ignacio Álvarez, 23 Joaquín Suárez
YACARE
1 Ezequiel Reyes, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Enrique Quinteros, 4 Ignacio Martínez, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 6 Felipe Puertas, 7 Juan Pérez Rachel, 8 Ariel Núñez, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Joaquín Lamas, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Arturo López, 15 Ramiro Moyano
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Palillo, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Rodolfo Rivadeneira, 19 Juan José Heisecke, 20 Lucio Anonetani, 21 Gonzalo Bareiro, 22 Tomás Vanni, 23 Facundo Paiva
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, March 15
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo (UY)
Kickoff: 8pm (UY); 8pm (PY)
Weather Forecast: Party Cloudy, 23°C; wind (19-24 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN Star +
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero (AR)
Assistants: Mauro Rossi y Marcelo Piñeyro
TMO: Alejandro Longres
