USA move closer to u20 Trophy final with win over Uruguay ...
A place in the World Rugby u20 Trophy Final is now just one win away for the USA after they secured a convincing 32-15 win over Uruguay on Sunday. While the two sides shared two tries apiece, the American goal kickers combined for six penalty goals that proved the difference in Edinburgh.
Ben Saunders opened the scoring with a penalty goal but it wouldn’t be until nearly the half-hour mark when the game saw its first try. Uruguay took advantage of a dominant scrum to earn an attacking lineout. They didn’t go to the maul, however, instead a set play went back to the short side where Francisco García was open for a finish in the corner.
Repeat scrum collapses resulted in a yellow card to USA prop Asbjorn Ross. The defense held until another penalty gave Ícaro Amarillo a chance for a shot at the posts which he duly converted. At the end of 40 minutes it was Los Teritos who held an 8-3 lead.
The USA came out reinvigorated in the second half. Saunders landed a pair of three-pointers to nudge his side ahead by one, a lead they would not relinquish. Ollie Cline replaced Saunders at flyhalf and immediately delivered a 50-22. From the resulting lineout hands down the line ended with Corbin Smith touching down with the extras making it 16-8 to the Americans at the hour mark.
Keelan Farrell showed his pace with an outside break to score soon after, but a swift reply in similar fashion came from Uruguayan winger Santiago Gini. That would be the end of the Teritos comeback, however, as the Americans took control in the final minutes. Cline landed three penalties with a yellow card to Gini leaving his team shorthanded at the death.
Pool play will come to a conclusion on Friday when the USA takes on Kenya, with a victory ensuring their place opposite the winner Scotland’s game against Japan. Uruguay will take on the Netherlands, which pending the USA result should determine who plays in the Bronze Final.
USA 32 Tries (2) – C. Smith (57′), K. Farrell (65′) Cons (2) – O. Cline 2/2 (58′, 66′) Pens (6) – B. Saunders 3/3 (7′, 49′, 52′), O. Cline 3/3 (72′, 75′, 80′) YC (1) – A. Ross (31′)
URUGUAY 15 Tries (2) – F. Garcia (27′), S. Gini (69′) Cons (1) – I. Amarillo 1/2 (70′) Pens (1) – I. Amarillo 1/1 (37′) YC (1) – S. Gini (75′)
USA u20 1 Asbjorn Ross, 2 Cade Crist (co-capt.), 3 Asa Rosenmeier, 4 George Engels, 5 Braemar Murray, 6 Graeme Pedegana, 7 Holden Hahn, 8 Logan Ballinger, 9 Spencer Huntley, 10 Ben Saunders, 11 Keelan Farrell, 12 Max Threlkeld, 13 Dom Besag (co-capt.), 14 Corbin Smith, 15 Rand Santos
Replacements: 16 Seth Smith, 17 Thomas Wagner, 18 Luke Schaefer, 19 Brice Muller, 20 Dylan Fortune, 21 Judd Berman, 22 Ollie Cline, 23 Daniel Lowther
URUGUAY u20 1 Felipe Pick, 2 Francisco García, 3 Duban Silvera, 4 Manuel Bertolotti, 5 Francisco Gallo, 6 Juan Manuel Dotta, 7 Phillip Bowles, 8 Franco Bertini (capt.), 9 Pedro Hoblog, 10 Ícaro Amarillo, 11 Santiago Gini, 12 Alfonso Perillo, 13 Augusto Flangini, 14 Francisco Garayalde, 15 Ignacio Frugone
Replacements: 16 Tomás Sturla, 17 Santiago Cagnone, 18 Rodolfo Arocena, 19 Benjamín Barrozas, 20 Federico Lawlor, 21 Iñaki Idoyaga, 22 Manuel Parodi, 23 Santiago Terra
Date: Sunday, July 7 Kickoff: 11:45 local Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Weather: sunny, 63°F (17°C), wind W 12-18mph (19-29km/h)
Referee: Sylvain Mané (Senegal) Assistants: Ethan Glass (Switzerland) & Ciaran Stark (Scotland)
