Peñarol recover from slow start to beat Raptors

Peñarol overcame a slow start to bounce back and win well on Sunday. The Uruguayans downed the American Raptors in a bonus point victory. The Uruguayans played the match like it was a final. The 24-17 victory set them back on track.

Of note for Peñarol was that the scrum performed well. After having been the team’s achilles heel throughout the 2024 campaign, the scrum delivered in Denver. The return, from injury, of Juan Manuel Rodríguez in the second-row was pivotal. He was named Man of the Match.

The Raptors were 10-0 up early. Scotland fullback Rufus McLean went over after latching on to a chip-kick from winger Jacob Hidalgo. Ignacio Mieres converted. The former Puma missed two penalties before landing his fourth kick at goal for the match.

Peñarol’s response took a long time. The Uruguayan side managed to butcher three opportunities deep in the Raptors’ 22. It took until four minute from half-time before the two-time reigning Super Rugby Americas champions scored points. Hooker Francisco García touched down in the try zone from a maul.

Trailing 10-5 midway through the match, Peñarol improved in the second-half. Carlos Deus touched down to level. Fly half Andrés Zuccarino converted to give Peñarol the lead for the first time.

The Raptors’ problems then began insurmountable. Argentine tight head Facundo Pomponio was red carded for stomping on Gastón Mieres. The 20 minute period of playing with 14 men saw the US side conceding two further tries. Ignacio Álvarez and Santiago Álvarez both scored.

Peñarol kept pounding away but did not score again. A marvelous try was scored with the Raptors running in a 100 meter try. Having won a turnover, the Raptors spun the ball wide and John Lefevre broke clear. Juan Manuel Alonso stopped him meters short only for Ignacio Mieres to score after arriving in support.

The win moves Peñarol further ahead of the American Raptors. The Uruguayans now have 17 competition points compared to 11 for the Raptors. Os Cobras are the wooden spooners with 8 points.

Peñarol host the 4th places Selknam next weekend. Selknam has played impressive rugby in recent weeks. The Raptors have a bye next weekend. It is to be followed by road matches against Os Cobras in Brazil, Yacare in Paraguay and Selknam in Chile.

SCORING

AMERICAN RAPTORS (17)
Try (2) – R McLean (5′), I Mieres (72′)
Con (2) – I Mieres (6′, 72′)
Pen (1) – I Mieres (28′)
RC (1) – F Pomponio (51′)

PENAROL (24)
Try (4) – F García (36′), C Deus (48′), I Álvarez (54′), S Álvarez (59′)
Con (2) – JA Zuccarino (48′, 54′)

LINEUPS

AMERICAN RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Javon Camp-Villalovos, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Shawn Clark, 7 Mo Vainikolo, 8 Diego Magno, 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 11 Francisco Quinn, 12 Watson Filikitonga, 13 Tomi Morani, 14 Jacob Hidalgo, 15 Rufus McLean

Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Mikey Grandy, 20 Tommy Clark, 21 John Lefevre, 22 Zach Hall, 23 Micah Griffen

PENAROL
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Francisco García, 3 Mathias Franco, 4 Manuel Rosmarino, 5 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 6 Santiago Civetta (Capt.), 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Carlos Deus, 9 Pedro Hoblog, 10 Juan Andrés Zuccarino, 11 Dante Soto, 12 Juan Manuel Alonso, 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Ignacio Álvarez

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Horacio de la Mota, 19 Agustín Morales, 20 Felipe Aliaga, 21 Santiago Álvarez, 22 Ícaro Amarillo, 23 Joaquín Suárez

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

OFFICIALS

Referee: Simón Larrubia (AR)
Assistant Referees: Katie Roth; Francisco González
TMO: Chris O’Malley