USA Men Advance to Dubai Sevens Quarterfinals After Second in Pool

The USA Men’s Sevens Team entered the 2019-2020 HSBC World Sevens Series ranked second in the world and faced Ireland, Scotland, and Australia in Pool B at the 2019 Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens.

The USA won their first two matches, 24-19 over Ireland and 31-21 over Scotland. Penalties and a yellow card had Australia capitalizing to win the pool 24-12.

The USA will face Pool C winner New Zealand in the Cup Quarterfinals at 2:36 am ET on Saturday, while Australia meets Samoa.

Other Cup Quarterfinal matches include France vs England and South Africa vs Argentina.

Noteworthy is Fiji missing out on the Cup Quarterfinals for the first time at Dubai after finishing in a three-way tie with France and Argentina with 2-1 records. France topped the Pool with Argentina finishing second on points differential.

Canada will play Fiji in the 9th Place Playoff, Ireland faces Spain for 11th place, Kenya meets Scotland for 13th, and Wales faces japan for 13th place.

The Pool player spotlight goes to Ireland’s Jordan Conroy who scored five tries in their 31-29 comeback win over Scotland.

USA 24-19 Ireland

The USA opened the scoring at their opening match at the 2019 Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens with a Carlin Isles try to lead 5-0. Ireland answered back with Aaron O’Sullivan scoring off a switch with Bill Dardis adding the extras to take a 7-5 lead.

Danny Barrett added a try under the posts after a Joe Schroeder offload prior to the break with Madison Hughes converting to lead 12-7.

The USA added second-half tries by Perry Baker and by Danny Barrett with Hughes slotting the first to lead 24-7.

Ireland narrowed the final with a try by Terry Kennedy with Mark Roche converting and another by Jack kelly in the left corner for a final of 24-19 to the USA.

USA Starters: 3. Danny Barrett 9. Stephen Tomasin 5. Joe Schroeder 10. Madison Hughes 1. Carlin Isles 6. Kevon Williams 12. Maceo Brown Reserves 7. Naima Fuala’au (7′) 11. Perry Baker (8′) 8. Maka Unufe (10′) 2. Ben Broselle (12′) 4. Matai Leuta (14′)

Ireland Starters: 6 Billy Dardis 3 Harry McNulty 4 Foster Horan 7 Jordan Conway 10 Terry Kennedy 11 Hugo Lennox 5 Aaron O’Sullivan Reserves 1 Jack Kelly (6′) 2 Adam Levy (7′) 9 Mark Roche (8′) Greg O’Shea (10′) Peter Maher (DNP)

USA 31-21 Scotland

Scotland opened the scoring with an intercept try and conversion by Robbie Ferguson. The USA leveled the match after a breakaway try by Maka Unufe, which was converted by Madison Hughes.

Scotland added by Harvey Elms with Ferguson converting again and the USA answered back with a long break by Perry Baker to cut Scotland’s lead to 14-12 at the break.

The Eagles Sevens began the second half with a try by Joe Schroeder, who broke two tackles. Hughes slotted the conversion to lead 19-14. Stephen Tomasin added another after an overthrow to push the lead to 24-14.

Scotland added a second intercept try by Kyle Rowe with Gavin Lowe adding the extras to cut the lead to 24-21.

On the final play, the USA’s Maceo Brown claimed the restart and offloaded to Carlin Isles for a try with Hughes converting to win 31-21.

USA Starters: 3. Danny Barrett 10. Madison Hughes 9. Stephen Tomasin 8. Maka Unufe 11. Perry Baker 4. Matai Leuta 7. Naima Fualaau Reserves 5. Joe Schroeder (7′) 12. Maceo Brown (8′) 1. Carlin Isles (9′) 6. Kevon Williams (9′) 2. Ben Broselle (12′)

Scotland Starters: 7 Dougie Fife 11 Alex McFarland 5 Harvey Elms 4 Robbie Ferguson 12 Ross McCann 3 Alec Coombes 2 Kyle Rowe Reserves 9 Sam Pecquer (9′) 6 Tom Brown (12′) Gavin Lowe (13′) 1 Scott Bickerstaff (DNP) 8 Femi Sofolarin (DNP)

USA Australia

In the first half penalties by the USA led to two tries by Lachie Anderson and Joe Pincus with Maurice Longbottom converting the first for a 12-0 lead at the break. Danny Barrett was sent to the bin on the final try.

Australia extended the lead with Henry Hutchison picking up a loose ball for a try under the posts with Longbottom adding the extras to push the lead to 19-0.

Maka Unufe found a gap in the Aussie defense and scored a try under the posts with Madison Hughes slotting the extras to cut the lead to 19-7.

Henry Hutchison sealed the win with a try after Australia claimed a bounce to lead 24-7. Carlin isles added a try in the right corner after the hooter for a final of 24-12 to Australia.

With the win, Australia won Pool B and will face Samoa in the Cup Quarterfinals. The USA will also advance to the quarters against New Zealand, which will be on Saturday at 2:36 am ET.

The USA Men’s Sevens Team entered the 2019-2020 HSBC World Sevens Series ranked second in the world and faced Ireland, Scotland, and Australia in Pool B at the 2019 Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens.

The USA won their first two matches, 24-19 over Ireland and 31-21 over Scotland. Penalties and a yellow card had Australia capitalizing to win the pool 24-12.

The USA will face Pool C winner New Zealand in the Cup Quarterfinals at 2:36 am ET on Saturday, while Australia meets Samoa.

USA Starters: 3 Danny Barrett 10 Madison Hughes 11 Perry Baker 7 Naima Fuala’au 5 Joe Schroeder 12 Maceo Brown Reserves 1 Carlin Isles (9′) 4 Matai Leuta (9′) 6 Kevon Williams (9′) 8 Maka Unufe (11′) 10 Ben Broselle (10′)

Pool Results