April 10, 2016
Men’s Eagles Sevens Reach Plate Final at Hong Kong Sevens
Photo: Norma Salinas Photography – Martin Iosefo
Doug Coil
USA v South Africa Cup Quarterfinal
Hong Kong Stadium was under sieze after a torrential downpour impacted playing conditions at the Cathay Pacific, HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals and South Africa moved to the Cup Semi-finals with a 28-0 win over the Men’s Eagles Sevens. The Eagles would need to fight for the Plate beginning with the Plate Semi-finals against Wales.The Eagles had entered the match after going undefeated in pool play with wins against Portugal, Argentina and Australia.
The Eagles Ben Pinkelman won the restart, but Garrett Bender was penalized at the breakdown. After some changes in possession, Perry Baker attacked on the wing and was met by several defenders. As he was going into touch he attempted to pass and was intercepted by Seabelo Senatla and South Africa took a 7-0 lead four minutes into the match.
Baker then was penalized at the breakdown on the restart and Ruhan Nel incresed South Africa’s lead to 14-0 at halftime. It wasn’t Baker’s match and Mike Friday replaced him with Maka Unufue to begin the second half.
The second half began with Folau Niua’s restart bouncing into touch deep. South Africa cleared the ball and the Eagles were then penalized at the breakdown. South Africa kicked for territory and a lineout ensued inside the Eagles 22. Loose ball was retrieved by the Eagles and a skip pass was again intercepted by Senatla for a try under the posts. South Africa now led 21-0.
The final score occurred just prior to the match ending after Tiberio was tackled. South Africa retrieved the loose ball and moved it to Siviwe Soyizwapi for a final try. The match ended 28-0 in favor of South Africa.
The USA would move to the Plate Sem-finals against Wales.
USA v. South Africa
1. Nate Ebner 2. Ben Pinkelman 3. Danny Barrett 4. Garrett Bender 5. Zack Test 6. Peter Tiberio 7. Folau Niua 8. Maka Unufe 9. Nate Augspurger 10. Madison Hughes (C) 11. Perry Baker 12. Martin Iosefo
Men’s Eagles Sevens Starters: Pinkelman, Barrett, Bender, Niua, Hughes, Baker, Iosefo
South Africa v. USA
1. Ruan Kankowski 2. Philip Snyman 3. Tim Agaba 4. Kwagga Smith 5. Siviwe Soyizwapi 6. Kyle Brown 7. Branco du Preez 8. Stephan Dippenaar 9. Justin Geduld 10. Cecil Afrika 11. Seabelo Senatla 12. Ruhan Nel
USA 0 South Africa 28 Tries: Senatla (2), Nel, Soyizwapa, Conversions: Geduld (4)
USA v Wales Plate Semi-final
The Eagles returned to their Poll play form and shutout Wales 27-0 in the Plate Semi-finals. Perry Baker had three tries and Ben Pinkelman had two. The win earned them a spot in the Plate Final against England.
From the securing the opening restart that was claimed by Perry Baker, Martin Iosefo and Zack test runs created the opportunity for Baker to notch the first try and a 5-0 lead.
Pinkelman then took the restart and the Eagles attacked again. After a penalty from a Wales offside, Niua took a quick tap, Madison Hughes split defenders. Zack Test then fed Pinkelman of the wing for a try. The score was now 10-0 and Wales had not had possession.
The third restart was won by Baker. A chip and chase ensued, but Wales finally had their first possession five minutes into the match. They promptly cleared the ball and the Eagles once again attacked before a forward passed kept them from scoring again.
Baker was presented with another scoring opportunity when a Wales grubber from deep in their territory was taken by the Eagles. Baker crossed in-goal, but prior to his touching down on a dive, Luke Treharne’s hand caused the ball to be dropped. At halftime the score remained 10-0.
Mike Friday is a master communicator and encouraged the team to continue what was working effectively during the first half. It worked, as Baker had two breaks, before Test moved the ball near the try line. Pinkelman then went over for the try to increase the lead to 15-0.
Maka Unufe, who replace Iosefo, just missed the restart, but Wales lost possession after a scrum. Bender bulled his way through a defender and an Unufe pass found Baker in space for another try, increasing the lead to 22-0.
On the ensuing restart the ball bounced and that was all she wrote as Baker went in for his hat trick unimpeded. The Eagles had a 27-0 lead, a lead that would be the final. That was only after a key tackle and poaching the ball at the breakdown by Nate Augspurger and Ben Pinkelman kept Wales from scoring.
The Eagles moved to the Plate Final to face England.
USA v. Wales
1. Nate Ebner 2. Ben Pinkelman 3. Danny Barrett 4. Garrett Bender 5. Zack Test 6. Peter Tiberio 7. Folau Niua 8. Maka Unufe 9. Nate Augspurger 10. Madison Hughes (C) 11. Perry Baker 12. Martin Iosefo
Men’s Eagles Sevens Starters: Pinkelman, Bender, Test, Niua, Hughes, Baker, Iosefo
Wales v. USA
1. Luke Treharne 2. Ethan Davies 3. Chris Knight 4. Luke Morgan 5. Owen Jenkins 6. Tom Isaacs 7. Jordan Williams 8. Lloyd Evans 9. Kristian Phillips 10. Sam Cross 11. Adam Thomas 12. Ben Roach
USA 27 Tries: Baker (3), Pinkelman (2), Conversions: Hughes Wales 0
USA v England – Plate Final
The Men’s Eagles Sevens were shutout for a second time on day three of the Cathay Pacific, HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as England won 19-0 to win the Plate. The Eagles received 12 Series points and will head to Singapore next for the seventh leg of the Series and the inaugural one for Singapore.
England opened in a blaze as Dan Norton ran through the gain line and touched down for a try and a 7-0 lead.
Five minutes into the match had the Eagles attacking and Nate Augspurger offloaded to Baker, but the ball was lost forward. The Eagles defense bottled up England, but McConnochie drew in his defender Zack Test before offloading to James Rodwell for a try and a 14-0 halftime lead.
With a minute remaining in the match, McConnochie would score a try of his own that resulted from a USA lineout. The final score was 19-0 to England.
The USA increased their hold on fifth place in the Series Standings with 88 points. That is 11 points above sixth place Argentina. Fourth place is held by Australia with 105 points.
Next week the Eagles will be in Singapore for the seventh leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. They will be in Pool B along with New Zealand, France and Canada.
USA v. England
1. Nate Ebner 2. Ben Pinkelman 3. Danny Barrett 4. Garrett Bender 5. Zack Test 6. Peter Tiberio 7. Folau Niua 8. Maka Unufe 9. Nate Augspurger 10. Madison Hughes (C) 11. Perry Baker 12. Martin Iosefo
Men’s Eagles Sevens Starters: Pinkelman, Bender, Test, Tiberio, Unufe, Augspurger, Iosefo
England v. USA
1. Richard de Carpentier 2. Charlie Hayter 3. Phil Burgess 4. Dan Norton 5. James Rodwell 6. Rom Mitchell 7. Ruaridh McConnochie 8. Tom Bowen 9. Cameron Cowell 10. Warwick Lahmert 11. Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas 12. Oliver Lindsay-Hague
USA 0 v England 19 Tries: Norton, Rodwell, McConnochie, Conversions: Mitchell (2)
Men’s Eagles Sevens: Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens
