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Inchauspe I. (20'), Albanese M. (40')
Tries
Cipriani L. (5'), Moyano A. (14'), Gea Salim L. (72')
Inchauspe I. (21')
Conversions
Baronio J. (6', 14', 73')
Inchauspe I. (57', 60', 78')
Penalties
Baronio J. (53', 63')
Dogos XV will travel to Montevideo to defend their title and their 3rd consecutive final appearance. Dogos overcame their Argentine rivals with their 8th victory out of 10 clashes.
Dogos started quickly and found themselves on the board after just 5 minutes. After the ball squirmed loose from the breakdown, Agustín Moyano popped the pass to Juan Bautista Baronio. Baronio flashed a pass across the line to find outside centre, Leonardo Gea Salim, who turned on the gas through the open space in the defence. He was finally hauled down on the 5 metre line. Moyano and Baronio linked up quickly again, for Baronio to put Lautaro Cipriani through out wide to dive over for his try. Baronio was able to make the conversion even from out wide, adding more points to his tally this season.
6 minutes gone and its 0 - 7 to the visitors, Dogos continued their attack and won a scrum on the 5 metre line in the 14th minute. A scrappy scrum saw the ball spill out the back but quick thinking from Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel popped the ball to Moyano. Moyano was quickly swarmed but managed to step his way out of trouble and to score a outstreched try close to the line. Baronio obliged again and stretched the Dogos lead to 0 - 14 after 14 minutes.
Felipe Contepomi was in attendance to witness that moment of magic from Moyona, can we expect him in the Argentina team this summer?
Pampas managed to get a bit of a foothold back in the game, after making it to the Dogos 5 metre line. A strong carry from Justo Piccardo allowed Mateo Albanese to recycle the ball quickly to Ignacio Inchauspe. Inchauspe pinned his ears back and went for the gap between 2 defenders, his momentum got him over the line and Pampas were finally on the board after 20 minutes. Inchaupse got up to make the conversion and reduce the scoreline to 7 - 14 after 21 minutes.
The game continued with Pampas managing to camp themselves in the Dogos half for a sustained period, the forwards were grafting with sustained pressure of pick and goes. As the half time hooter sounded, Pampas were camped a metre out from the Dogos try line, a couple of pick and goes opened up a gap for Albanese to sneak a dive round the breakdown and score his try. It was close to the left hand touchline making the conversion attempt a step too far for Inchauspe. However, Pampas had brought the score back to 12 - 14 on the break of half time.
The second half started in a similar way to the last 20 minutes of the first half, committed defending and sustained pressure from both sides. The stalemate was finally broken when Santiago Pernas found himself yellow carded for reckless play, taking the home side down to 14 for 10 minutes. Baronio stepped up to kick the penalty and stretch the lead to 12 -17 after 53 minutes.
The 14 man home side managed to keep themselves in the with the next 2 scores from the tee, in the 57th minutes Inchauspe kicked over from close to the Dogos 10m line. Then followed up 3 minutes later from a bit closer to take the score to 18 - 17 for the Pampas. The home side had managed to sneak themselves ahead in the 60th minute.
But just before Pernas was to return to the pitch, Pampas gave the Dogos a penalty kick 40 yards out on the left. Baronio kicked it as per usual and took the lead back in the 63rd minute. 18 - 20 to the visitors.
13 minuites remained and Pampas were awarded a penalty close to the right hand touchline but basically on the Dogos 22. Inchauspe stepped up to retake the lead but managed to pull his kick wide of the far upright. Leaving the Dogos still ahead going into the final 10 minutes.
72 minutes on the clock and we see a sustained Dogos attack where they keep breaking the gainline and managing to keep the ball alive. They manage to get a couple of offloads in a row, when they get to the Pampas 5 metre line. Moyano is sucked into defending the ruck, Julián Hernández finds himself at scrum half, a short pop to marauding prop Boris Wenger. Wenger with the show and go gets through a gap, has 2 defenders dangling off him, as all props are amazing at rugby. He basketball esque pass to an on charging Leonardo Gea Salim who carries himself over the line from close range. Baronio does the business again and Dogos take their lead to 18 - 27 after 73 minutes. Surely the job is done now?
Inchauspe adds 3 points to reduce the deficit on the 78th minute, with the score line 21 -27. There is a couple of minutes left to save their spot in the final for Pampas.
Pampas have a line out on their 10 metre line in the 81st minute, this has to be their last chance to get the tie back in their favour. Dogos steal at the front, the ball bobbles around in their half but a player in red gleefully volleys it into touch and the Dogos are in the final!
