Vodacom Cup
Pampas XV back on track
2010-04-07 18:43
Martin Bustos Moyano (Gallo Images)
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Stellenbosch - The Pampas XV of Argentina got their Vodacom Cup campaign back on track when they beat the SWD Eagles 36-17 (halftime 17-7) in a South section match played in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.
This game would have been played in George last month, but was postponed due to a player strike by the Southern Cape team.
A somewhat happier Eagles side could however not pick up a single league point in this midweek fixture, whereas the Pampas left the Van der Stel sports grounds with a full house.
Competing well in the scrums and lineouts was not enough to make up for a dreadful afternoon in the Eagles’ defence department -- hence six Argentinean tries.
The Pampas XV competed very well at the breakdown area and won many an unprotected SWD ball. Their willingness to run from anywhere also caught the disorganised Eagles defenders off guard on a number of occasions.
Right wing Martin Bustos Moyano ran in a hat-trick long-distance tries for the travelling home side and the final nail in the coffin was hammered in when Eagles replacement scrumhalf, Jandré Blom, threw a misguided pass straight into the hands of lock Tomás Roan, who scored the sixth try.
For the Eagles, Sakkie Saayman and Bevin Fortuin scored either side of halftime, but their team never seemed able to outsmart the happy-go-lucky yet physical Pampas attack.
Considering that fullback Martin Rodriguez missed 15 points in a poor kicking display, the Argentinians could have notched up their half-century against a team who should have sleepless nights before they face Western Province in Ravensmead, Cape Town on Saturday.
The Pampas XV, who host Free State in the curtain-raiser, now have a perfect opportunity to prove that they can play well two weeks in a row - MWP.
Scorers:
Pampas XV 36 – Tries: Martin Bustos Moyano (3), Agustin Gosio, Cesar Felipe Bettoli, Tomás Roan. Conversions: Martin Rodriguez (3).
Eagles 17 – Tries: Sakkie Saayman, Bevin Fortuin. Conversions: Deroy Rhoode, Jandré Blom. Penalty: Rhoode.