By JOE SANTAMARIA
Round Eight of the Super Rugby Americas season began with a historic 25-19 victory for Cobras against Peñarol on Friday night, meaning they have completed a first-ever league double over the defending champions.
Powerful centre Robert Tenório was able to crash over for the game's opening try 12 minutes in after some brilliant offloads from his fellow backs. The Uruguayan hosts struck back with a try from a driving maul but were unable to stamp their authority on the game for long. Cobras outside centre Carlo Mignot followed in Tenório's footsteps by getting on the end of a flowing attack to give the visitors a 12-7 lead at the break.
Peñarol struck the first major blow of the second half when centre Felipe Mario Arcos Perez raced up the wing to score. With the match delicately poised, Cobras showed their power by driving the hosts' scrum over their own line from five metres out, allowing No.8 André Arruda to score a simple try. Peñarol were unable to find a score that would have rescued the game and the result leaves their title defence in crisis, having slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat.
The weekend's next game saw the league's best-attacking side, Pampas, play host to the second-best, Yacare, in what looked to be the best match of the round. Unfortunately, heavy rainfall denied fans the try-fest they were expecting but they were able to witness a masterclass performance from Pampas fly half Manuel Nogués, who danced through the Yacare defence to open the scoring after just three minutes. Pampas' poor discipline resulted in two yellow cards and Yacare too full advantage by scoring from a driving maul to level the scores. Pampas centre Justo Piccardo scored an opportunistic try after Yacare fumbled the ball near their own line before Nogués grabbed his second try to put his team firmly in control going into half time.
The second half was punctuated by handling errors and resolute defence from both sides, with a sole Pampas penalty the only score heading into the final ten minutes. Yacare were able to grab another try from a maul but Pampas held on to secure a 22-12 victory. Both sides were perhaps left wondering what might have been in dryer conditions but there is every chance these sides may meet again in the knockout stages.
The weekend ended with a thumping 63-14 victory for Dogos in Colorado against American Raptors that sees the Argentinian side end the round at the top of the table. The visitors wrapped up the bonus point within half an hour and looked unstoppable at times. Former Argentina U20 hooker Tomas Bartolini helped himself to four of his side's eleven tries. American Raptors fought back bravely and gave their home fans something to cheer with a well worked score in each half. However, their porous defence remains a problem and their back to back victories in rounds five and six already feel like distant memories. The squad will not doubt be glad to see the back of Dogos for now, having conceded 119 points in their two matches against them this season.
Round Nine sees Selknam play host to Yacare with the Chilean side knowing a defeat would make their pursuit of the play-off positions an uphill struggle. American Raptors' struggling defence will be put under further scrutiny as they welcome Pampas to Infinity Park. The weekend's final match offers Cobras the charge to win back to back games for the first time this season when they travel to table-topping Dogos on Sunday.
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