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Bianchi L. (12'), Penalty Try (35'), Cardoso Pinto M. (53'), Myszka J. (56'), Arcos Perez F. (67')
Tries
Martinez R. (58'), Game C. (70')
Etcheverry F. (57', 67')
Conversions
Salas T. (71')
Etcheverry F. (62')
Penalties
Salas T. (42', 51')
Peñarol managed to secure the home advantage for the final next weekend against Dogos XV. Selknam had their amazing run of form come to an end in the trip to Montevideo. Both teams put on a show but Peñarol were a step too far this season.
After a 11 minute stalemate, Peñarol finally broke the deadlock through a charging Lucas Bianchi. Bianchi was the outside runner of a three man pod formation, 22 metres out he recieved the perfect offload. Then set off to gobble up space untackled until he reached the 5 metre line, under 2 tacklers he still managed to force himself over the line. Peñarol were 5 - 0 to the good after 11 minutes but the conversion was missed to maximise the lead.
Felipe Etcheverry hadn’t brought his kickinh boots in the first half, missed that conversion and a drop goal attempt too.
He didn’t need to worry though, as Peñarol extended their lead in the 34th minute through a penalty try. Selknam illegally pulled down a rolling maul which started from a Peñarol lineout on the 22. Nicolás Garafulic received the yellow for the infringement and found himself in the bin for 10 minutes.
Peñarol looked to have a man advantage and stretch the lead. However, Portuguese Manuel Cardoso Pinto received a yellow for a reckless mid air tackle on the 38th minute. Then try scorer Lucas Bianchi found himself on the receiving end of a team yellow for persistent infractions when Selknam were camped on the Peñarol try line. Peñarol kept the sustained pressure at bay and went in 12 - 0 to the good at half time.
The second half started with Selknam breaking the deadlock with 2 penalty kicks, after the 43rd and 49th minue markers. The score was 12 - 6 now.
With both sides back to 15 players each, Peñarol struck first thorugh Cardoso Pinto. Felipe Arcos Pérez received the ball on the Selknam 10 metre line, charging through another open gap in the defensive line. He managed to time his pass to Pinto when on the Selknam 22, Pinto accelerated away to slide over for the try. Etcheverry missed the conversion again. 52 minutes on the clock and Peñarol take their lead to 17 - 6.
Peñarol started to put their foot down now, with another try 3 minutes later through Joaquín Myska. Another devastating driving maul, could not be stopped and gathered pace closer to the line it got. Myzska just had to flop over the line to extend the lead again. Etcheverry finlly found his kicking boots and took the score to 24 - 6 in the 56th minute. It looked a uphill battle now for the Chileans.
From the restart, Peñarol tried to exit with a cross field kick. It was gathered up by Selknam, it looked like Peñarol ere going to win the ball back at the breakdown but Raimundo Martinez snuck round the blind and set off into enemy territory. A cheeky show and go, then a one - two with scrum half Juan Cruz Reyes managed to get Martinex over teh line for the first Selkanm try of the night. Score line now sits at 24 - 11 after 57 minutes.
Etcheverry definitely must have changed his boots as he managed to add another 3 points from a long way out, taking the score to 27 - 11 in the 62nd minute. He then made space to set off a grubber kick behind the Selknam advancing defence and a foot race for Arcos Pérez began. He raced away and cleverly gathered under pressure a metre out. Gliding over to take the tie out of reach now surely. Etcheverry added the conversion from close to the sticks and Peñarol were 34 - 11 ahead in the 66th minute.
However, there isn’t a game without a acrobatic finish from Cristóbal Game. Tomas Salas managed to get enough space on the Peñarol 22, to chcuk a long pass to an open Game. Game set off with what looked like acres of space but the covering defence put him under enough pressure for him to dive into the corner in spectacular fashion. I could happily watch a highlight reel of his tries on repeat.
Salas kicked the conversion tight on the far touchline but it was just a consalation effort. 71 minutes and the score was 34 - 18. The game ticked down with sloppy play from both sides and the Selknam chances faded.
Peñarol will host the Dogos in the final next weekend.
