By JOE SANTAMARIA
The Super Rugby Americas season resumed after the Easter break with a mouthwatering repeat of last season's final as Peñarol welcomed Dogos to Montevideo on Friday night.
The opening exchanges were tightly contested with both sides showing signs of nerves and neither able to stamp their authority. The hosts began to build a lead, with fly-half Juan Andres Zuccarino punishing Dogos' poor discipline with four first-half penalties. However, the Argentine visitors grew into the game, scoring a penalty try after a dominant display of scrummaging to ensure they trailed by just two points at the break.
It proved to be a sign of things to come as powerful No.8 Efrain Elias burrowed over to give Dogos the lead early in the second half. The match remained in the balance for much of the second half as Peñarol tried in vain to breach the ferocious Dogos defence. Their resistance crumbled in the game's final quarter as a second penalty try secured a 21-12 victory for Dogos that banished memories of their defeat in last year's final and showed them to be capable of going one step further this time around.
Saturday's game was an entertaining clash between Cobras and Pampas that saw both teams show signs of rustiness. The visitors started brightly and good movement allowed Santiago Pernas to breach the Cobras defence before offloading to give fullback Benjamin Elizalde a simple finish. Pampas quickly extended their leave after Bruno Heit collected a brilliant kick in behind to race into the corner. A loose offload from Pernas allowed Cobras to score a breakaway try to keep the scores close at the break.
Cobras quickly returned the favour after the break as they carelessly gave the ball away to centre Juan Pablo Castro Collado who ran in unopposed to restore his side's advantage. Pernas secured the bonus point with an opportunistic score but Cobras fought back with two tries of their own, including a scintillating finish from fullback Agustin Llano. The Brazilian side will be disappointed they couldn't kick on in the final 15 minutes, instead conceding two further tries as Pampas ruthlessly exposed their tiring defence. Juan Manuel Leguizamón will look to eradicate his team's errors, but will no doubt be satisfied with the 38-20 victory that saw his team top the table after Round Seven.
American Raptors were looking for a historic third consecutive victory when they hosted Selknam but a red card after just eight minutes meant the odds were stacked against them. The Chilean visitors soon capitalised through winger Iñaki Delguy after a bruising run from captain Clemente Saavedra. Fly half Nicolas Roger danced past three helpless defenders to extend his side's lead before halftime.
Selknam were calculated throughout the second half and their numerical advantage began to show. Hooker Diego Escobar managed to breach the American Raptors before replacement Nicolás Saab secured the bonus point before the hour mark. The hosts fought back and grabbed a consolation try but there was no hint of a comeback as Selknam closed out the 26-7 victory with relative ease. The result sees the Chilean side rise up to fourth in the table and could potentially kickstart a run towards the playoffs.
Round Eight will see Peñarol attempt to get their season back on track when they host Cobras, while Buenos Aires will host the two best attacking sides in the league when Pampas face Yacare. Sunday's match offers American Raptors a chance to bounce back but Dogos will arrive in Colorado as heavy favourites.
