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Selknam upset Peñarol this evening to win the historic first ever SLAR match. The Chilean side were 15-13 winners as they won by kicking their shots at goal, while Peñarol were left disappointed after the highly reliable Federico Favaro had an off night.
Favaro opened the scoring. Five minutes into the match he slotted a penalty from the 40 meter line. The angle was not the kindest, yet he found the target comfortably. Selknam immediately struck back, doing so through Santiago Videla.
Videla scored all 15 points for Selknam in the match. His second shot on target came after Peñarol and established a 10-3 lead. It came from the only try of the match. Scrum-half Santiago Arata charged down and regathered a Selknam clearance for the score.
The second quarter saw Selknam scoring two penalties to close the half at 10-9. The narrow difference between the sides was a fair reflection of the opening forty minutes. Peñarol’s rust saw an oversupply of knock-ons, while Selknam were happy to play the percentages.
Selknam started the second half strongly. Videla landed his fourth shot at goal to put his side in the lea for the first time. It would be cancelled out by Favaro but not before Videla landed his fifth to complete the scoring for the match. Favoro also missed twice, one of which rebound off the uprights.
Remarkably, Peñarol had several opportunities to score tries, yet every time forced passes resulted in knock-ons or they went forward. Although, Favaro’s underwhelming accuracy was critical, the lack of patience was just as pivotal to the end result.
Needless penalties in the final 15 minutes saw two players per team yellow carded. All were backs which made for a five on five in the backline. Despite this there would not be flair among the outside runners.
Selknam travel home to Chile to prepare to host Los Ceibos in week two. That match will be at the national stadium and now has further reason to attract interest. Peñarol have a bye in round two. Their next game will be away to Corinthians in round three. The Uruguayan side is certain to be fired-up for that match.
SCORING
PEÑAROL 13
Tries – S. Arata (10’)
Cons – F. Favaro 1/1 (11’)
Pens – F. Favaro 2/5 (5’, 67’)
Yellow cards – T. Inciarte (66’), N. Freitas (69’)
SELKNAM 15
Pens – S. Videla 5/5 (9’, 20’, 34’, 48’, 70’), P. Baronio 0/1
Drop goals – F. Urroz 0/1
Yellow cards – J. Blanc (66’), P. Baronio (73’)
TEAMS
PEÑAROL
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (18 Ignacio Péculo 41’), 2 Obert Nortjé (16 Guillermo Pujadas 60), 3 Diego Arbelo (17 Mauro Genco 62’), 4 Alejandro Nieto (capt.), 5 Louis Conradie, 6 Manuel Ardao (20 Maxime Sonneveld 62’), 7 Juan Garese, 8 Santiago Civetta, 9 Santiago Arata (21 Alfredo Pueyrredón 68’), 10 Bradley Thain (23 Felipe Etcheverry 52’), 11 Raffaele Storti (22 Baltazar Amaya 48’), 12 Agustín Della Corte, 13 Tomás Inciarte (22 Baltazar Amaya 9’-12’), 14 Nicolás Freitas, 15 Federico Favaro
Not used: 19 Diver Ceballos
SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco (17 Vesi Rarawa 62’), 2 Tomás Dussaillant (16 Augusto Böhme 47’), 3 Matías Dittus (18 Esteban Viale 47’), 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Javier Eissmann (19 Mario Mayol 56’), 6 Martín Sigren (20 Nicolás Garafulic 60’), 7 Ignacio Silva (capt.), 8 Rodrigo Bruno (21 Bautista Stávile 52’), 9 Patricio Baronio, 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Julio Blanc, 12 Latiume Fosita (23 Ignacio Albornoz 62’), 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Lucca Avelli (22 Beltrán Vergara 75’), 15 Francisco Urroz
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
