The High School All Americans got a late try from captain Calvin Whiting and 12 points from the boot of flyhalf Ben Cima to get by Uruguay 27-17 in the 4 Naciones M18 rugby tournament in Rio Cuarto, Argentina Saturday.

The victory was the first for the USA team on tour, after they lost in a warmup scrimmage against a tough Cordoba Academy team, and lost to Argentina and Italy U18 teams. The Uruguay game was expected to be difficult, and was. However, the HS All Americans never trailed in the contest. They scored an early try to lead 7-0, and while Uruguay answered, the two teams traded tries to tie the game 14-14. Cima hit a penalty to put the HSAA team ahead going into halftime, and while Uruguay tied it again, a Cima penalty and Whiting’s try put the game away.

The first-half tries for the High School All Americans came from prop Derise Fuga (Liberty HS, Wash.) and current Goff Rugby Report HS Player of the Week, Leki Fotu (Peninsula Green, Calif.), with Cima converting both. 

Then after Cima had put his side up 17-14, Uruguay tied it at 17-17. Cima once again kicked a penalty to make it 20-17, and then Whiting capped off an 80-yard attack with a try.

The key for this game was that the HSAA team did not fall off in the second half. Against Argentina the halftime score was 14-13, before the Pumitas scored three second-half tries to win 35-13. Against Italy, the HSAA team led 9-7 in the second half, before a penalty and a try make it 20-9 Italy.

“I wouldn’t put it down to any thing,” said HSAA and Colorado Springs wing Seth Halliman. “It was just mental errors.”

Conscious of defense coach Michael Engelbrecht’s admonition that they were falling off tackles late in the game, they buckled down and held their line to the final minute.

HSAA All Americans 27
Tries: Fuga, Fotu, Whiting
Convs: Cima 3
Pens: Cima 2
 

Uruguay U18s 17

The HS All Americans finish 3rd in the 4 Naciones. Argentina plays Italy for 1st later Saturday.