Clever Hat-Trick Seals win for Eagles

Three tries in a under 10 minutes for captain Todd Clever sealed a comeback win for the Eagles as they defeated Canada 30-22 in another exciting Americas Rugby Championship match at Dell Diamond. The win extends the USA’s winning streak to four over their neighbors and leaves them level with the Argentina XV on eight points at the top of the tournament table.

The match started out well for Canada, with Gordon McRorie knocking over two penalties in quick succession before James Bird could reply for the USA. McRorie erased the score with his third moments later, but it was the Eagles who would notch the first try.

Lemoto Filikitonga was put through the line by some accurate passing and though he was hauled down by the scramble defense, repeat pressure on the Canadian line eventually yielded space out wide and the try went to centre partner Chad London. Bird converted to give the USA a one point lead, but it was short-lived as inaccuracy at the breakdown cost them possession and eventually another penalty shot for McRorie, who made no mistake to give his team a two point lead at the intermission.

The penalty count began to creep up for both sides, first for the USA and minutes into the second half McRorie was handed his fifth goal to stretch the lead to five. Canada then suffered a blow as Mozac Samson left the field groggy from a misplaced tackle, joining Filikotonga on the sidelines after the American had earlier suffered a leg injury.

A brief stalemate followed, and then it was Canada’s turn to concede penalties, but instead of points the Eagles opted for the corner. Ben Landry took the lineout clean and the rolling maul worked a charm with Clever the one to emerge with the ball. Things got worse soon after when Alistair Clark was binned for repeat team infringements, and it was déjà vu when Landry’s catch ended with Clever’s second try, again from an unstoppable maul.

With the route to victory now clear, another penalty against Canada put the Eagles on the doorstep once again and this time it was Brodie Orth who set the maul, but it was Clever who spotted the undefended blindside to dive over for his third. Replacement scrumhalf Niku Kruger’s conversion sailed over to give the Eagles a commanding 12 point lead well into the final quarter as Gordon McRorie left the field injured.

Still a man down, Canada somehow managed to free debutante Duncan Maguire – on for Samson – and the winger turned on the jets to score a long-rang breakaway try, and Andrew Ferguson – another first-timer on for McRorie – nailed the conversion from out wide. That brought the men in red to within one score, but discipline continued to cost them dearly, and repeat phases earned a penalty shot for Kruger, which he duly obliged.

As the clock ticked over into injury time it was the USA who were on the ascendancy again, capitalising on Canadian errors to land them into scoring position. Their tried and tested driving maul worked its magic once again only for the ball to be held up in the endzone as referee Juan Sylvestre signalled full-time.

Canada will now look to rebound at home base in Langford where they welcome Brazil in a week’s time. The Eagles fly east to Florida, where an engagement with Chile awaits at Lockhart Stadium.

 

SCORING

USA 30
Tries – C. London (26′), T. Clever 3 (57′, 61′, 65′)
Cons – J. Bird (27′), N. Kruger (66′)
Pens – J. Bird (20′), N. Kruger (76′)

CANADA 22
Tries – D. Maguire (69′)
Cons – A. Ferguson (70′)
Pens – G. McRorie 5 (9′, 13′, 22′, 30′, 45′)
Yellow cards – A. Clark (61′)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Eric Fry (16 James Hilterbrand 70′), 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai (17 Joe Taufete’e 46′), 3 Chris Baumann (18 Olive Kilifi 70′), 4 Brodie Orth, 5 Ben Landry (20 Alec Gletzer 70′), 6 Nate Brakeley, 7 Todd Clever (capt.), 8 David Tameilau, 9 Mike Te’o (21 Niku Kruger 59′), 10 James Bird (22 JP Eloff HT), 11 Kingsley McGowan, 12 Lemoto Filikitonga (23 Mike Garrity 34′), 13 Chad London, 14 Luke Hume, 15 Jake Anderson

Not used: 19 Pat Blair

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens (capt.) (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 53′), 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Callum Morrison (19 Liam Chisholm 58′), 6 Lucas Rumball (20 Kyle Baillie 66′), 7 Alistair Clark, 8 Clayton Panga, 9 Gordon McRorie (22 Andrew Ferguson 66′), 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Dan Moor, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Mozac Samson (23 D. Maguire 49′), 14 Phil Mackenzie, 15 Patrick Parfrey

Not used: 16 Eric Howard, 18 Rob Brouwer, 21 Mike Hamson

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Juan Sylvestre (Argentina)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USA) & Scott Green (USA)

 

Attendance: 7,145