United States 31 Uruguay 17

The USA bagged second spot in the Pan-American Championship in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires, putting paid to Uruguay with a 31-17 scoreline.

Uruguay finished bottom of the competition, having lost all their games, and Los Teros came in for heavy criticism from USA coach Tom Billups due to their misplaced aggression, which saw four players yellow-carded.

"It is unfortunate that the Uruguayans decided to bring such a thuggish attitude to the contest," said Billups.

"All rugby players are vulnerable at some time or other in a game, and there were times when red cards must have been considered."

Centre Philip Eloff opened the scoring for the Eagles in the opening minute with a try after David Fee had broken through the defence to find his support runner -- Eloff running in the score from halfway.

Both teams kicked a penalty before America's second try, scored by fullback Paul Emerick after barging his way over.

The Uruguayans scored a converted try from a dab ahead, but a further penalty from Hercus and a try from wing Riaan Van Zyl restored the Eagles' lead to 25-10 at the interval.

Hercus struck a penalty and dropped a goal as a messy second half got underway, before Uruguay hit back with their second try -- the last points of the match.

The Teams:

United States:  1 Dan Dorsey, 2 Kirk Khasigian, 3 Mike MacDonald, 4 Luke Gross, 5 Alec Parker, 6 Jurie Gouws, 7 Kort Schubert, 8 Dan Lyle (c), 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Mike Hercus, 11 David Fee, 12 Jason Keyter, 13 Phillip Eloff, 14 Riaan Van Zyl, 15 Paul Emerick
Reserves:  Gerhard Klerck, Aaron Satchwell, Jacob Waasdorp, Matt Wyatt
Unused:  Kain Cross, Richard Liddington, Mose Timoteo

Uruguay:  1 Pablo Lemoine, 2 Diego Lamelas, 3 Juan Machado, 4 Juan Alzueta, 5 Juan Carlos Bado, 6 Nicolas Brignoni, 7 Nicolas Grille, 8 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 9 Juan Campomar, 10 Bernardo Amarillo, 11 Carlos Baldassari, 12 Diego Aguirre (c), 13 Hilario Canessa, 14 Joaquin Pastore, 15 Juan Menchaca
Reserves:  Eduardo Berruti, Jose Viana, Marcelo Gutierrez, Hernan Ponte
Unused:  Juan Alvarez, Guillermo Storace, Emiliano Caffera

Referee:  Borsani s.

Points Scorers:

United States
Tries:  Emerick P.L. 1, Eloff P. 1, Van Zyl R. 1
Conv:  Hercus M. 2
Pen K.:  Hercus M. 3
Drop G.:  Hercus M. 1

Uruguay
Tries:  Campomar J. 1, Ponte H. 1
Conv:  Menchaca J. 1, Amarillo B. 1
Pen K.:  Menchaca J. 1