Pampas break Boland hearts
A last-minute try by the Pampas XV replacement scrumhalf Martin Landajo saw the defending Vodacom Cup champions record a narrow 30-27 victory over the Boland Cavaliers at Newlands on Saturday.
Landajo’s try ended a patient fightback from behind by the Argentineans in the last 26 minutes.
Boland left winger Brandon April scored a converted try in the 54th minute and gave his side a convincing lead of 27-13, after leading by 17-13 at the break.
But the Pampas struck back immediately when scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli finished of an attack from their own 22.
One sign of a championship side is its ability to fight its way back into a match without being to hasty -- something the Pampas proved on Saturday.
Boland had the majority of the possession in the first hour of the match, but the Argentinean side got their act together after Cubelli’s try put them back in the picture.
They patiently launched one attack after the other, but a strong defensive performance by the Cavaliers seamed to be enough to secure a victory over the “visiting home side”.
But with 30 seconds left Landajo leaped over a ruck just in front of Boland’s poles and was awarded his try after a TMO decision was taken. Santiago Iglesias’s conversion was a mere formality as the match was already won.
SCORERS:
Pampas XV - Tries: Ramiro Moyano, Tomas Cubelli, Martin Landajo. Conversions: Santiago Iglesias (3). Penalties: Iglesias (3).
Boland Cavaliers - Tries: Franzel September, Shanan van der Merwe, Brandon April. Conversions: Elgar Watts (3). Penalties: Watts (2).
