March 11, 2017
Eagles Win Pool After Win Against Australia
Photo: All World Photo
Doug Coil
Both the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens and Australia won their first two matches against Japan and France to set up their final Pool C match to win the pool at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Both teams have already secured a spot in the Cup Quarterfinals tomorrow.
USA v Australia
The USA played a physical match against Australia scoring 29 unanswered point before Australia scored a try after the hooter. With the 29-5 win over Australia, the Eagles Sevens won Pool C and will play the winner of Argentina and Wales in the Cup Quarterfinals.
Australia by finishing second in the Pool will play Pool B winner, Fiji in the Cup Quarterfinals tomorrow.
James Stannard kicked the opening restart and it went into Perry Baker’s hands. Soon after, a Folau Niua offload to Baker was all that was needed for Baker to weave his way through defenders for a try under the posts. Madison Hughes slotted the conversion and the USA lead 7-0 at the 2nd minute.
The Eagles added another try after Niua created a turnover. After a penalty by Australia, Niua kicked to touch and after winning the lineout, Hughes chipped ahead and Baker raced downfield and picked the ball off the bounce for a his second try of the match for a 12-0 lead.
Prior to halftime, Danny Barrett went by one defender and fended another and went in for a 75 meter try, increasing their lead to 17-0 at the break.
At halftime, Mike Friday urged his team to be more physical at the breakdown.
Mike Friday inserted Maka Unufe for Martin Iosefo at halftime and it immediately paid dividends as Unufe claimed the restart and turned and split defenders for a try. With Hughes’ conversion the score was now 24-0. Unufe then added a second try after going around Stannard for a try in the corner to seal the match with a 29-0 lead.
Australia finally added a try in referee’s time, as Lachie Anderson rolled over after the tackle by Ben Pinkelman to ground the ball for a try. That was the end of the match as the USA won Pool C 29-5 over the second place Australia.
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 Canada Sevens
v. Japan – W52-0
v. France –W31-19
v. Australia – Saturday, March 11 @ 8:08 p.m. ET
