USA fight back to Secure Victory over Uruguay

The USA completed a successful fightback to secure victory over Uruguay in Texas. The second match of the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship was a thriller. The 29-23 fixture bodes well for the future of a competition of substantial potential.

It took little time for the scoring to begin. Both teams were on the board within the first 10 minutes of play. Uruguay scored first through fly half Germán Albanell. It came from pressure applied following a wayward clearance from his opposite, Ben Cima.

The USA fly half made amends. He cancelled out Albanell’s three-pointer with one of his own. His 6th minute goal would be the first of many points that resulted from high tackling offenses from both teams.

The lack of a TMO in the Americas Rugby Championship was brought into question minutes later. Former USA captain Todd Clever was yellow carded for a late and dangerous charge. Replays showed that the Californian’s reckless charge was above the red card threshold. A date with the judiciary is now very likely.

Uruguay used their own-man advantage to good effect. Having gotten back into the opposition half the pack made a charge into the Eagles’ 22. Sustained aggression saw Los Teros rewarded. Crossing in the 16th minute was hooker Facundo Gattas. His score came from a set-move following another Eagles penalty in which Uruguay kicked for the corner.

The sideline conversion meant that Uruguay was leading 10-3. Cima looked to decrease the deficit from long range but his 19th minute penalty sailed wide. It mattered not as the Eagles fly half would land his next attempt three minutes later.

The selection of Cima saw AJ MacGinty playing out of position at inside center. Early play did not work in his favor though this changed in the second quarter. Following a penalty from Cima, MacGinty would set-up the USA’s opening try. From a set-move lineout MacGinty broke the line and passed to Bryce Campbell. The conversion was on target.

Having played a strong opening half, winger Zack Test was forced from the field. He was stretchered off on the stroke of half time. There was time for Uruguay to land three points with Albanell again taking the opportunity.

Six minutes into the second half and Uruguay took charge. Leading by example the impressive captain, Alejandro Nieto went over. His 46th minute try gave Los Teros the lead.

Los Teros were playing the better rugby but a yellow card offense harmed their chances. Without center Juan Manuel Cat Los Teros would see their lead ended. Firstly, though, Albanell made it a 23-16 game.

MacGinty replaced Cima as the Eagles’ goal kicker, the latter being substituted. The Sale Sharks fly half started with a simple penalty from in front. Albanell was off-target in response minutes later.

The Eagles then scored the try of the match. Captain Blaine Scully combined with replacement Will Magie to score in the right corner. Magie’s cross kick caught Uruguay by surprise and the Cardiff Blues winger did the rest.

High tackles were regular occurrences in this game. MacGinty would give the Eagles a six-point lead following another tackle above shoulder height.

Further Uruguayan defensive infringements saw the Eagles go on to close out the win. Two missed penalties, in the 69th and 77th minutes, from MacGinty ultimately would not factor into the result.

A late scare, nonetheless, had to be seen off. Los Teros kicked for the corner and used pick-and-go phases to chip away at the USA’s tryline. A penalty against Uruguay saw the final whistle blown with the Eagles celebrating their victory.

 

SCORING

USA 29
Tries – B. Campbell (38’), B. Scully (61’)
Cons – B. Cima (39’), A. MacGinty (62’)
Pens – B. Cima 3 (6’, 23’, 30’), A. MacGinty 2 (55’, 66’)
Yellow cards – T. Clever (12’)

URUGUAY 23
Tries – F. Gattas (15’), A. Nieto (45’)
Cons – G. Albanell 2 (16’, 46’)
Pens – G. Albanell 3 (4’, 40’, 54’)
Yellow cards – J. Cat (49’)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Anthony Purpura (17 Alex Maughan 60’), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 James Hilterbrand 54’), 3 Chris Baumann (18 Dino Waldren 54’), 4 Nate Brakeley (19 Matt Jensen 60’), 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Todd Clever (20 Tony Lamborn 54’), 8 Al McFarland, 9 Nate Augspurger (21 Shaun Davies 72’), 10 Ben Cima (22 Will Magie 54’), 11 Zack Test (23 JP Eloff 39’), 12 AJ MacGinty, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Mike Te’o

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benítez 77’), 2 Facundo Gattas (16 Diego Pombo 72’), 3 Juan Echeverría (18 Felipe Inciarte 77’), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala (20 Diego Magno 66’), 6 Rodolfo Garese (19 Juan Diego Ormaechea 66’), 7 Franco Lamanna, 8 Alejandro Nieto (capt.), 9 Santiago Arata (21 Guillermo Lijtenstein 69’), 10 Germán Albanell, 11 Andrés Rocco (22 Francisco Berchesi 60’), 12 Juan de Freitas (23 Gastón Gibernau 60’), 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Rodrigo Silva

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USAR) & Scott Green (USAR)

 

Attendance: 3,000