February 6, 2016
Eagles 7s Advance to Cup Quarter-Finals at Sydney
Logo: USA Rugby
Doug Coil
The Eagles 7s left Wellington for Sydney, while Kevin Swiryn and Brett Thompson returned home to take care of injuries as the result of match play and practice, respectively. We wish both a speedy recover and return to rugby. Martin Iosefo replaced Kevin Swiryn on the roster.
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Sydney, Australia is stop four of the series. The United States comes into the tournament in six place in the Standings and hopes to perform well and jump a team or two. The USA Sevens will be the next stop in the Series in Las Vegas, March 4-6, 2016.
At Sydney, the Eagles 7s are in Pool D, along with England, Japan and Wales.
USA Eagles 7s v Wales
USA Starters: Barrett, Test, Holder, Isles, Iosefo, Niua and Hughes
Wales enjoyed possession first, but Danny Barrett made his physical presence felt in the breakdown and Folau Niua executed a dummy and then ran 60 meters for the first try. Madison Hughes, who would have an outstanding match, converted. The USA took a 7-0 lead.
After possession changes several times, Carlin Isles received an offload and was the recipient of a crushing tackle. Soon after he made Wales pay, as he made he streamed by Welsh defenders for a try. Madison Hughes once again converted. The score was 14-0 at hafltime.
The second half saw Martin Iosefo pierce the defense and offload to Barrett who found Perry Baker for the try. (21-0, 8′)
Perry Baker then lured defenders near touch and Thretton Palamo was able to break a tackle and score a try. (28-0)
It was then Ben Pinkelman’s time to shine twelve minutes into the match. Zack Test won the breakdown and Pinkelman did the rest for his first career Series try. Hughes converted and was now 5 for 5. (35-0)
Pinkelman then drew defenders and set up Perry Baker for his second try. Madison Hughes converted and the USA had a 42-0 lead over Wales. Although this would be the final score, Wales did mount an attack that culminated with Nate Augspurger saving a try with his tackle and Wales knocking on near the try line.
USA Eagles v Japan
USA Starters: Barrett, Pinkelman, Test, Iosefo, Niua, Hughes and Baker
Japan had the early attack, but Perry Baker showed what a force he can be with the first of his three tries. The Eagles 7s had a 5-0 early lead.
Japan then had the ball deep in their half, but lost the all and Martin Iosefo picked up the loose ball for an easy try. Madison Hughes converted and the Eagles led 12-0.
Japan played keep away as they had multiple phases before Satoshi Oshima received an offload 10 meters of the try line for a try. (USA 12-5)
Prior to halftime, Baker once again showed his magic in rounding the defending wing for a second try. Madison Hughes converted and the Eagles led 19-5 at halftime.
Within less than a minute into the second half, Danny Barrett kicked the ball out of the ruck and Baker picked for a hat trick try under the posts. Hughes converted and the Eagles led 26-5. Soon after Carlin isles extended the lead with a try of his own and another Hughes conversion. (33-5)
That was enough to seal the match, but Japan scored two late tries from Lomano Lemeki and Shohei Toyoshima. The Final score was USA 33-17 Japan.
With the win the Eagles 7s would advance to the Cup Quarterfinals on day two. There third Pool play match against England would determine who would win the Pool. The Winner would play second place Australia, while the loser would play New Zealand.
USA Eagles 7s v England
USA Starters: Barrett, Test, Holder, Iosefo, Niua, Hughes, and Baker
England drew first blood as Tom Mitchell found Alex Gray on a switch for a try in the corner. Martin Iosefo was injured on the play and did not return to the match.
The Eagles attacked back As Danny Barrett broke tackles. Madison Hughes almost reached the try line before being tackled high without a call. Baker seemingly had his sixth try, but he tried to center the ball closer to the posts, but stepped over the in-goal area. This resulted in a England 22 meter drop.
Barrett once again attacked and another England high tackle resulted in the Eagles losing possession. The lack of calls by the referee would prove to be a source of contention later.
England counterattacked and a Tom Bowen to Alex Davis offload increased England’s lead to 12-0.
Just prior to halftime, Baker would thrill the crowd as he weaved through all seven defenders before an offload from Barrett to Zack Test resulted in a try. Madison Hughes added a conversion and the Eagles were down 12-7 at halftime.
In the second half England increased their lead after a poach at the breakdown led to a Tom Mitchell try.
Three minutes into the second half, multiples Eagles contributed to advancing the ball before Danny Barrett barrelled over for a try. Hughes converted and the score was 17-14 to England.
With a minute remaining in the match, the Eagles last attack was thwarted by a penalty, although an England knock on was missed by the referee. England was able to then use clock management to earn the win.
Cup Quarterfinals
The Eagles 7s will face New Zealand in the Cup quarterfinals at 7:35pm ET. The match is being steamed on the World Rugby web page.
Men’s Eagles Sevens
1. Carlin Isles
2. Matai Leuta
3. Danny Barrett
4. Ben Pinkelman
5. Zack Test
6. Martin Iosefo
7. Folau Niua
8. Thretton Palamo
9. Nate Augspurger
10. Madison Hughes
11. Perry Baker
12. Will Holder
Wales | v. USA
1. Luke Treharne
2. Ethan Davies
3. Lloyd Lewis
4. Luke Morgan
5. Owen Jenkins
6. Tom Isaacs
7. Jordan Williams
8. Luke Crocker
9. Kristian Phillips
10. Sam Cross
11. Lloyd Evans
12. Ben Roach
Men’s Eagles Sevens 42- 0 Wales
Tries: Niua, Isles, Baker (2), Palamo, Pinkelman
Conversions: Hughes (6)
Japan | v. USA
1. Lomano Lemeki
2. Lote Tuqiri
3. Kameli Soejima
4. Yoshiaki Tsurugasaki
5. Akihito Yamada
6. Dai Ozawa
7. Katsuyuki Sakai
8. Satoshi Oshima
9. Shohei Toyoshima
10. Kosuke Hashino
11. Chihito Matsui
12. Teruya Goto
Men’s Eagles Sevens | 33
Tries: Baker (3), Iosefo, Isles
Conversions: Hughes (3), Augspurger
Japan | 17
Tries: Oshima, Lemeki, Toyoshima
Conversions: Sakai
England | v. USA
1. Richard de Carpentier
2. Jack Wilson
3. Warwick Lahmert
4. Alex Davis
5. James Rodwell
6. Tom Mitchell
7. Dan Bibby
8. Tom Bowen
9. Cameron Cowell
10. Ruaridh McConnochie
11. Ethan Waddleton
12. Alex Gray
Men’s Eagles Sevens | 14
Tries: Test, Barrett
Conversions: Hughes (2)
England | 17
Tries: Gray, Davis, Mitchell
Conversions: Mitchell
