2018 Americas Pacific Challenge

Uruguay, Samoa Toast Of APC

Uruguay, Samoa Toast Of APC

Round 2 of the Americas Pacific Challenge is done and Samoa A and Uruguay XV are the only unbeaten teams left.

Oct 11, 2018 by Alex Goff
Ryan Matyas and Tim Maupin Combine To Score

Samoa A and Uruguay XV are in the driver's seats in the Americas Pacific Challenge after both won games in Round 2 action Wednesday.

Samoa A battled past Tonga A in a hugely physical encounter. Meanwhile, Uruguay scored two late tries to turn an 18-18 tie game into a 33-18 victory over USA Selects. Both Samoa A and Uruguay XV are 2-0.

Argentina XV dominated Canada 45-5 to improve to 1-1.

See all results and standings

For the USA, this was a disappointing game because it started out so well. Early pressure led to a Dylan Audsley penalty goal, and while Uruguay had the better of the scrum engagements, the Americans scored a well-taken try to make it 15-11 for Uruguay at halftime.

In the second half, Ryan Matyas produced a piece of magic to run into the corner — a quick tap from Devereux Ferris and support from Hanco Germishuys helped set that up. At the point, it was 18-18. But attacking opportunities for the USA Selects were squandered, and a frustrating inability of the deep three to manage the high ball led to a try, and a penalty, and then another try at the end of the game.



The USA players knocked on too many balls in their own 22, kicked away possession for little gain, and then found themselves having to defend a scrum in their territory as the game wound down.

Samoa A wing Johnny Vaili scored two tries to pace his team to the win over Tonga A. Facundo Corder's brace helped Argentina XV humble a Canada team that is really struggling right now.