March 4, 2017
Eagles lose in closing seconds to England to finish second in Pool at USA Sevens
Photo: Martin Seras Lima
Doug Coil
The USA Men’s Eagles 7s are on to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – USA Sevens Cup Quarterfinals after beating Chile 31-0 in pool play to go 2-0. They then beat England in the final pool match on Saturday to win the pool.
USA v England
England caught the restart and were quickly penalized and paid for their offense, as Martin Iosefo found a gap for a try. With the wind swirling, Madison Hughes conversion drifted wide right.
England then attacked, but Andrew Durutalo poached and although the USA had the ball, England created pressure at the breakdown. After a penalty the ball was swung wide and Perry Baker raced in for the try. Madison Hughes converted and the score was 12-0.
The Eagles pressured on the restart and the ball was knocked on inside the England 22 meters. England won the scrum and used quick hands to get the ball to Dan Norton, who chipped ahead and picked up the ball for a try. It was 12-5 and would be the result at halftime.
The second half restart went to Iosefo and the ball went wide left, right and back before going into touch. The Eagles stole the lineout, but an errant pass went into touch. The Eagles stole the lineout again and went through multiple phases before England was penalized 15 meters in defense of the try line.
After another penalty Folau Niua passed long to Ben Pinkelman for a try in the corner and the lead was 17-5.
A Oliver Lindsay-Hague offload to Richard de Carpentier had him going in for a try to narrow the lead to 17-10. England then captured the restart and Tom Mitchell went in for a try under the posts and converted to tie the match at 17 all.
With no time on the clock England controlled the restart and Tom Bowen went in for the winning try. Tom Mitchell converted for a 24-17 England win.
Men’s Eagles Sevens – HSBC USA Sevens
1. Pat Blair 2. Ben Pinkelman 3. Danny Barrett 4. Matai Leuta 5. Walt Elder 6. Andrew Durutalo 7. Folau Niua 8. Maka Unufe 9. Stephen Tomasin 10. Madison Hughes (C) 11. Perry Baker 12. Martin Iosefo
Men’s Eagles Sevens – HSBC USA Sevens
v. Samoa – W26-5
v. Chile – W31-0
v. England – Saturday, March 4 @ 7:24 p.m. ET
