USA Defeat Scotland to Advance to LA Sevens Cup Quarterfinals

The HSBC Sevens Series LA Sevens is being held at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA on February 29-March 1.

All matches are being broadcast LIVE and On-Demand on NBC Sports Gold. NBCSN will also provide comprehensive coverage from 8 PM ET to 12 AM ET on Saturday, with extended timings on Sunday at 11:30 AM ET to 8 PM ET.

The United States is in Pool C with Australia, Scotland, and Samoa with the original Series format restored for the next two rounds (LA and Vancouver).

The USA opened pool play with a 19-17 win over Samoa, who are ranked 13th overall after finishing 15th in Hamilton and Sydney. The Samoans made the Cup Final last year in Las Vegas against two-time USA Sevens winner, the USA.

The USA then faced No. 12 Scotland, who opened with a 31-7 loss to Australia. With their 33-12 victory, the team will advance to the Cup Quarterfinals along with Australia, who defeated Samoa 31-5.

Group play will end after the USA faces Australia at 8:03 pm PT.

USA vs Scotland Recap

USA’s opening kick by Madison Hughes went directly into touch giving Scotland the ball at midfield. The Eagles 7s won a turnover at the breakdown, kicked for territory, and attacked from a lineout near their 10-meter line. A few phases later, the team was penalized for a penalty at the breakdown. Scotland’s Sam Pecqueur left he pitch with a shoulder injury.

Scotland scored a try after a lineout by Gavin Lowe and slotted the extras for a 7-0 lead.

The restart was gathered by the USA and Danny Barrett broke down the right touchline and Steven Tomasin finished with a try under the posts and following the conversion by Madison Hughes, the match was 7 all.

Scotland broke down the right wide channel and Carlin Isles saved a try. The Eagles 7s were penalized, but their defense created a turnover penalty of their own.

Discipline proved to be an issue for Scotland down the final minutes of the first half but did not result in additional scores. At the break, the match remained knotted at 7 all.

Second Half

Scotland’s Lowe restart kick went into Martin Iosefo’s hands and he motored after finding a gap in the defense for a try to claim a 12-7 lead after Hughes’s conversion was wide.

Scotland’s Kyle Rowe added a try to level the match at 12 all. The USA then claimed the restart and Kevon Williams finished with Hughes slotting the kick to lead 19-12.

The USA claimed the restart and Maka Unufe finished with a try that was converted by Hughes for a 24-7 lead. A final try came after a Joe Schroeder offload that went wide to Perry baker for his 200th Sevens Series career try.

With the win, the USA will advance to the Cup Quarterfinals tomorrow along with Australia. The USA will face Australia in their final pool match at 8:03 PT to determine the pool winner.

USA Eagles 7s: 1 Carlin Isles (Wing, 55) 2 Ben Pinkelman (Prop/Hooker, 35) 3 Danny Barrett (Prop, 52) 4 Joe Schroeder (Prop, 11) 5 Cody Melphy (Halfback, 4) 6 Kevon Williams (Halfback, Wing, 25) 7 Naima Fuala’au (Halfback), 6) 8 Maka Unufe (Center, 41) 9 Stephen Tomasin (Hooker, 35) 10 Madison Hughes (Capt, Halfback, 50) 11 Perry Baker (Wing, 45) 12 Martin Iosefo (Center, 44) 13 Maceo Brown (Center, 12)

STAFF

Head Coach Mike Friday
Assistant Coach Phil Greening
Assistant Coach Anthony Roques
Strength & Conditioning John Hood
Performance Analyst Dave Gardner
Athletic Trainer Brian Green
Team Manager Scott Novack