RUGBY WORLD CUP SPECIAL: Uruguay win the battle of cup minnows; SPAIN

SUBSTITUTE Juan Menchaca intercepted a pass and sprinted down the field to score the clincher as Uruguay defeated Spain 27-15 in the battle of the World Cup minnows at Galashiels.

The game was set for a thrilling climax until the Uruguayans scored two late tries.

Fullback Alfonso Cardoso scored in the 77th minute to give the South Americans a seven-point buffer when he received a pass on the left flank and rounded his opponent before outpacing the defence and diving across in the corner to make the score 22-15.

Flyhalf Andrei Kovalenco scored two goals in the first period and three penalties in the second half for a total of 15 points to keep the Spanish in touch until the end.

Trailing 10-6 at the interval, Spain rallied to take a 12-10 lead on two kicks from the pivot before Uruguay struck back with a penalty try to go ahead 17-10.

After a series of scrum infringements on their own line, Spain conceded the penalty try under the posts, which Diego Aguirre converted.

But Kovalenco reduced the margin to two points with another penalty goal soon after to set up a thriller.

Uruguay grabbed the halftime lead after skipper Diego Ormaechea barged over from the back of a five-yard scrum in the 23rd minute and Federico Sciarra converted to break a 3-3 deadlock.

It was Ormaechea's ninth try in 62 tests and Uruguay's first in the World Cup.

Spain opened the scoring when flyhalf Andrei Kovalenco slotted a penalty goal in the eighth minute but his opposite number, Diego Aguirre leveled at 3-3 with a penalty in the 15th.

Uruguay won the last head-to-head with a 20-3 win in a World Cup warm- up tournament in Italy.

With both teams expected to struggle in a Group containing World Champions South Africa and Five Nations champions Scotland, the victory will be the highlight of the tournament for Uruguay. Spain are now expected to finish without a victory.

Spain: Miguel Angel Frechilla, Oriol Ripol, Alvar Enciso, Sebastian Loubsens, Rafael Bastide, Andrei Kovalenco, Jime Alonso, Alberto Malo, Carlos Souto, Jose Diaz, Sergio Souto, Jose Miguel Villau, Jose Ignacio Zapatero, Fernando de la Calle, Jordi Camps.

Uruguay: Alfonso Cardoso, Martin Ferres, Pedro Vecino, Martin Mendaro, Pablo Costabile, Diego Aguirre, Federico Sciarra, Diego Ormaechea, Martin Panizza, Nicolas Brignoni, Mario Lame, Juan Carlos Brado, Pablo Lemoine, Diego Lamelas, Rodrigo Sanchez.

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