URBA Top 14: Newman becomes sole leader after beating CASI and Hindú's surprising fall

Newman has emerged as the sole leader of the URBA Top 14 rugby championship following a decisive 37-28 victory over CASI. This crucial win, achieved on Saturday, allowed Newman to capitalize on a surprising upset, as previous leader Hindú suffered a 23-20 home defeat against Regatas Bella Vista.

The match between Newman and CASI in Benavídez saw the defending champions establish a solid 20-7 lead by halftime, built on strong, disciplined defense. Despite CASI's comeback attempt in the latter stages, Newman managed to control the game and secure the win. Franco Longinotti scored two tries for Newman, with Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar and Pablo Cardinal adding others. Gonzalo Gutiérrez Taboada contributed 17 points with his boot.

In another significant fixture, SIC defeated CUBA 40-25 to claim third place in the standings. Although CUBA initially led 11-0, SIC mounted a strong comeback, scoring 26 unanswered points to take control. Agustín Sascaro was instrumental for SIC, scoring 25 points, as the team displayed increasing fluency and ultimately asserted their dominance.

Regatas Bella Vista achieved a major upset by defeating the then-league leaders Hindú in Don Torcuato, ending a long winless streak at that venue. Their victory was secured by the effectiveness of José De La Torre and a late try from Felipe Rugolo. Alumni also had a strong showing, with a 52-26 win over Los Tilos, maintaining their pursuit of the top teams. Other winners on the day included Belgrano (36-20 against Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby), La Plata (44-23 with a bonus point against Los Matreros), and Atlético del Rosario (27-22 against Champagnat).