The St. Ignatius U16s pose with the San Ignacio players post-match. Alex Goff photo.

The St. Ignatius Wildcats youngest team struggled against a more experienced U16 opponent in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on April 2 on their Argentinian tour.

The Wildcats found themselves hit with a 52-7 defeat at the hands of the San Ignacio rugby club, giving up several late tries as their cohesion let them down.

Jimmy Riley's try and Preston Bucsanyi's conversion was their only scoring in the match. The halftime score of 12-7 hinted at a close contest, but the hosts pulled away with a wave of quick tries in the second half, leaving the Wildcats unable to recover.

St. Ignatius' relative inexperience led to missed opportunities, and in the first half, when the Wildcats had chances to score, mistakes and impatience hurt them.

A display of sportsmanship and camaraderie prevailed beyond the field. Both teams came together in the true spirit of the game, sharing not only the game but also a post-game feast. The Wildcats and their opponents gathered at the San Ignacio clubhouse for a meal and friendly exchanges, underlining what rugby is all about.

The St. Ignatius players were further involved in fostering a sense of international community as they swapped jerseys and other memorabilia with their South American counterparts.

Looking ahead, the St. Ignatius U16s are proactively preparing to face the Mar Del Plata Rugby Club U16s on April 4 in Mar Del Plata as the final match day of the tour for the entire St. Ignatius program.