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Los Dogos were away winners in Montevideo on Friday. The result complicates Peñarol’s pathway to the play-off’s. With two rounds of the regular season remaining, Peñarol sits in 6th position and now needs a strong final two performances in addition to other results to go their way.
The match was a slow starter but when it did get going it had plenty of action. Los Dogos scored three first half tries before conceding one with time up in the opening 40 minute period. The first score demonstrated impressive continuity as Genaro Fissore, Gastón Garayzabal, Genaro Podesta and Valentín Cabral all combined with the flanker scoring.
Fullback Mateo Soler continued his impressive season. His first of two tries saw him showing good pace and strength to avoid a tackle from his opposite, Santiago Marolda. His second saw a break from captain, Valentín Cabral followed by a loose ball pick-up for the fullback to run in untouched.
Los Dogos were leading 19-0. The clock was in the red for the opening half when Peñarol found their way over for their first points. Flanker, Manuel Ardao scored his first of two tries for the night. He got an assist from Manuel Diana and then fended-off Mateo Soler to run in.
Los Dogos expanded on their 19-7 half-time lead with Tomás Montilla scoring early in the second-half to secure the four-try bonus point. He scored from a lineout to maul. Pick-and-go raids saw Peñarol responding eleven minutes later with replacement prop, Agustin Iglesias, scoring.
Los Dogos seemingly wrapped-up the contest on 68 minutes with replacement scrum-half, Nicolás Viola scoring in the left corner. Notwithstanding, Peñarol responded with a staggering three tries in the final nine minutes.
The first of the three saw Justo Ferrario over after quick passing through the center of the field. Then, for the second time in the match, Manuel Ardao broke clear and showed skill and pace to sprint to the try zone. The third saw Santiago Marolda darting over from scrum-half as Los Dogos failed to do the basics in defense.
Peãnrol declined kicking the conversion as they wanted the opportunity to score again and win rather than draw. Los Dogos held on to win 33-31.
 LINE-UPS |
PENAROL (31)
TRY – M Ardao 2 (40′, 74′); A Iglesias (65′); J Ferrario (71′); S Marolda (79′)
CON – J Ferrario (40′, 66′, 74′)
YC – L Bianchi (72′)
DOGOS (33)
TRY – V Cabral (17′); M Soler 2 (22′, 37′); T Montilla (43′); N Viola (68′)
CON – F Rodríguez (18′, 38′, 44′); M Soler (69′)
YC – F Rolotti (72′)
| TEAMS |
PENAROL
1 Mateo Perillo, 2 Joaquin Myszka, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Felipe Aliaga (capt.), 5 Manuel Rosmarino, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Joaquin Suarez , 10 Justo Ferrario, 11 James Thiel, 12 Mateo Acosta, 13 Juan Manuel Alonso, 14 Tomas Baca Castex, 15 Santiago Marolda
Replacements: 16 Sebastián Pérez, 17 Agustin Iglesias, 18 Mateo Sanguinetti, 19 Manuel Ponte, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Ícaro Amarillo, 22 Alfonso Perillo Albarracin, 23 Foster Douglas Dewitt
DOGOS
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Tomás Montilla, 3 Juan Agurre, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Enzo Ocampo, 6 Gastón Garayzabal, 7 Valentín Cabral (capt.), 8 Genaro Fissore, 9 Genaro Podesta, 10 Facundo Rodríguez, 11 Facundo Pueyrredón, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Ernesto Giudice, 15 Mateo Soler
Replacements: 16 Alejandro Pronce Mezzatesta, 17 Ezequiel Bustos López, 18 Galo Fernández, 19 Federico Rolotti, 20 Tomás Maria Gómez González, 21 Nicolás Viola, 22 Nicolás Roger, 23 Mateo Sanchez
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
VS
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Armen Abi-Saab (Uruguay); Federico Longobardi (Argentina)
