Pampas hold all the aces in dominant showing against Raptors

Los Pampas were highly impressive against the American Raptors on Sunday. The team from Buenos Aires, Argentina completed a dominant bonus option victory in Denver, Colorado. Joaquín de la Vega Mendía kicked 9/9 and Lucio Auad scored a hat-trick.

It was a bonus point win; yet, it was more than that. Los Pampas stomped a mud hole on the American Raptors. The visitors were far more organized in the set-piece, more competitive at the breakdown, more deadly on attack and more organized on defense. In other words, Los Pampas held all the aces.

The match was over as a contest long before the midway stage. Lucio Auad started the scoring in the 4th minute. His first try was his easiest of the afternoon. Captain Santiago Ruiz followed with the Argentine’s second. His pick-and-go score was all too easy.

Joaquín de la Vega Mendía converted both early scored. The former Rugby ATL player had a strong match. He could do no wrong; he also converted Valentino Minoyetti’s score and Auad’s second. With it Los Pampas were 28-0 ahead at half-time.

The second half started as the first half ended. Los Pampas quickly scored again. Flanker Nicolás D’Amorim went over in the 42nd minute. The next score was the try of the match. From a set-piece lineout move, Auad got the ball through the center of the field and accelerated over to score untouched.

The teams exchanged yellow cards. Federico Lavanini was yellow carded for dangerous clear out while Diego Fortuny joined him following too many Raptors’ penalties.

When the teams were back to fifteen-a-side the scoring resumed. It continued to be all Pampas. They scored three further tries. Replacement hooker Rolando Pérez Boulon and back Joaquín Lamas both scored while winger Iñaki Delguy joins Auad on the score sheet.

Los Pampas have a bye next weekend. Their next Super Rugby Americas fixture will be at home against Os Cobras on April 28. The American Raptors turn their attention now to Selknam. The teams will clash next Saturday at Infinity Park.

 

SCORING

RAPTORS (0)
YC – D Fortuny (57′)

PAMPAS (63)
Try – L Auad 3 (4′, 31′, 48′); S Ruiz (14′); V Minoyetti (28′); N D’Amorim (42′); R Pérez Boulon (68′), J Lamas (73′), I Delguy (78′)
Con – J de la Vega Mendía 9/9 (5′, 15′, 29′, 32′, 43′, 49′, 69′, 75′, 79′)
YC -F Lavanini (54′)

TEAMS

RAPTORS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Ma’ake Muti, 4 Will Crawford, 5 Mikey Grandy (capt.), 6 Diego Magno, 7 Tommy Clark, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Patrick Madden, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Watson Filikitonga, 13 Dominick Iacovino, 14 Ryan James, 15 Line Latu

Replacements: 16 Jack Manzo, 17 Chris Schade, 18 Adagio Lopeti, 19 Shawn Clark, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Lucas González Amorosino

PAMPAS
1 Rodrigo Martínez, 2 Valentino Minoyetti, 3 Javier Coronel, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Federico Lavanini, 6 Nicolás D’Amorim, 7 Jerónimo Ureta, 8 Santiago Ruiz (capt.), 9 Mateo Albanese, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Lucio Auad, 12 Manuel Alfaro, 13 Benjamín Elizalde, 14 Iñaki Delguy, 15 Juan Landó

Replacements: 16 Rodrigo Pérez Boulon, 17 Matías Medrano, 18 Javier Corvalán, 19 Manuel Bernstein, 20 Eliseo Fourcade, 21 Rafael Iriate, 22 Joaquín Lamas, 23 Juan Pablo Castro

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistant Referees: Phil Schwan (US); Joe Bursoe (US)
TMO: Marc Nelson (US)