Capibaras Move into Top 3 with road win over Peñarol

With a first-half hat-trick from Franco Rossetto, Los Capibaras move into the Top 3 of Super Rugby Americas (SRA). The team from El Litoral were in control of the contest throughout with the home side, Peñarol sneaking in two bonus points in a match that ended at 38-32.

Franco Rossetto’s contribution to the scoresheet started early. After a break from scrum-half Alejo Sugasti, the fullback went over on 6 minutes. Fly half Juan Bautista Baronio, who also played every well, landed his first of five conversions.

Peñarol got back to within one point as Santiago Marolda landed a penalty. The right winger also scored the next points as he ran in for Peñarol’s first try of the night. With it, Peñarol held the lead and were 8-7 up at the completion of the opening quarter.

The second quarter was one-wat traffic. Los Capibaras dominated to run in three tries to nil. First, N8 Manuel Bernstein broke off the back of an attacking scrum and ran over to score from 10 meters out. Peñarol were unable to stop the rampaging back-rower.

Two excellent tries to Rossetto followed with Los Capibaras able to run the ball into the try zone from big distances. The first saw Lautaro Cipriani passing off the deck to combine with Rossetto. The second game from a cross-kick from Baronio to Cipriani with Rossetto on hand for a support run too score in the corner. As a result, the match was 26-8 in favor of Los Capibaras at half-time.

Foto: Enzo Santos / Gaspafotos / Super Rugby Américas

Canadian impact helped Peñarol in the second-half. Second-rower Ethan Fryer scored in the opening minute after the resumption. It was a brief moment of hope for the Uruguayan side, however, as Bautista Estellés scored four minutes later after a break from Cipriani.

The back-and-forth continued with replacement Alfonso Perillo scoring after a good carry from flanker Manuel Ardao. The flanker was a top performer for Peñarol; he won five jackal turn-overs during the match.

Center Bruno Heit scored the final try for Los Capibaras , doing so with Cipriani having another assist. The 64th minute score had the team home for victory however, with Juan Bautista Baronio replaced, Los Capibaras were not the same. His replacement, Ignacio Dogliani, had an erratic performance with unforced errors and defensive blunders costing the visitors.

Meanwhlie, Peñarol fought back with two late tries. First, Santiago Marolda combined with Noah Flesch with the Canadian scoring. Second, Manuel Diana scored following a Dogliani fumbling the ball with time up. Rather than kicking the ball out, Diana benefitted and, in doing so, Peñarol ended with a second bonus point.

Los Capibaras continue their road matches next round as they travel to São Paulo to face Os Cobras. Peñrol will also play away from home as they take on the now fourth placed Los Tarucas.

SCORING

PENAROL (32)
TRY – S Marolda (15′); E Fryer (41′); A Perillo (51′); N Flesch (70′); M Diana (80′)
CON – S Marolda 2 (52′, 80′)
PEN – S Marolda (12′)

CAPIBARAS (38)
TRY – F Rossetto 3 (6′, 29′, 36′); M Bernstein (24′); B Estellés (44′); B Heit (64′)
CON – JB Baronio 4 (7′, 25′, 37′, 45′)

LINEUPS

PENAROL
1 Francisco Suárez, 2 Joaquín Myszka, 3 Jesús Porro, 4 Ethan Fryer, 5 Manuel Rosmarino, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Lucas Bianchi (capt.), 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Ícaro Amarillo, 10 Juan Francisco Pereira, 11 Tomás Baca Castex, 12 Noah Flesch, 13 Juan Manuel Alonso, 14 Santiago Marolda, 15 Nicolás Pittaluga

Replacements: 16 Sebastián Pérez, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Agustín Iglesias, 19 José Ignacio Rodríguez, 20 Manuel Ponte, 21 Alejandro Molinas, 22 Alfonso Perillo, 23 James Thiel

CAPIBARAS
1 Diego Correa, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Enzo Avaca, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Ignacio Gandini, 7 Felipe Villgarán, 8 Manuel Bernstein (capt.), 9 Alejo Sugasti, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio, 11 Gino Dicapua, 12 Bautista Estellés, 13 Bruno Heit, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Franco Rossetto

Replacements: 16 Bernardo Lis, 17 Juan Ignacio Rodríguez, 18 Ignacio Orsetti, 19 Juan Segundo Huber, 20 Bautista Grenon, 21 Juan Lovell, 22 Ignacio Doglini, 23 Santiago Vitola

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS