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The USA completed a shut-out victory over Russia in the second of two home internationals this month. Played on Saturday evening in Sacramento, California the Eagles ran out 25-0 winners in what saw captain Todd Clever becoming the most capped Eagles of all-time with 68 caps.
Played in the northern Californian summer heat the match brought an end to the international programs of both countries this season. With an eye to the future Eagles coach John Mitchell handed debuts to Langilangi Haupeakui, Harry Higgins, and Stephen Tomasin. The trio were all second half replacements.
The home side was far too strong for the visitors but it was not tries that won the match but, rather, goal kicking. Eagles fly half AJ MacGinty kicked five penalties and converted the game’s only try.
The opening score came from MacGinty who took the chance after winning the penalty from good work from center Thretton Palamo. 14 minutes into the game it became 6-0 as MacGinty added his second.
Further MacGinty penalties came in the 27th, 36th, and 40th minutes to give the Eagles a 15-0 half time lead.
Eight minutes into the second half the USA Eagles had a one-man advantage. Russian second-rower Andrei Garbuzov was yellow carded but, despite having one less defender, the Eagles were unable to score.
With Russia back to 15 players Todd Clever fed Blaine Scully down the touch line with the Cardiff Blues winger going over only for Alexei Shcherban to hold him up over the line. No try.
Eventually a try would come. In the 65th minute replacement Haupeakui smashed his way through two defenders to get the Eagles into Russia’s 22. With quick ball MacGinty dummied and offloaded to Mike Te’o. after a hand-off the southern Californian winger went dived over. MacGinty’s conversion made it 25-0 in what was the final score of the match.
Next up for the USA Eagles is the November International program. First up will be a home international against the Maori All Blacks in Chicago on November 04. Yet to be confirmed fixtures in Europe are to follow.
SCORING
USA 25
Tries – M. Te’o (65′)
Cons – A. MacGinty 1/1 (66′)
Pens – A. MacGinty 6/6 (10′, 14′, 27′, 35′, 40′, 45′)
RUSSIA 0
Yellow cards – A. Garbuzov (48′)
TEAMS
USA
1 Titi Lamositele (18 Angus MacLellan 61′), 2 James Hilterbrand (16 Joe Taufete’e 51′), 3 Chris Baumann (17 Ben Tarr 68′), 4 James King (19 Harry Higgins 72′), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Todd Clever, 7 Tony Lamborn (20 Langi Haupeakui 61′), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger (21 Stephen Tomasin 66′), 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Blaine Scully (capt.), 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 Thretton Palamo (22 Chad London 51′), 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Will Holder (23 Luke Hume 44′)
RUSSIA
1 Alexei Volkov (17 Azamat Bitiev 45′), 2 Evgeny Matveev (16 Nazir Gasanov 45′), 3 Evgeny Pronenko (18 Vladimir Podrezov 53′), 4 Andrei Garbuzov, 5 Denis Antonov (19 Evgeny Elgin 59′), 6 Viktor Gresev, 7 Pavel Butenko (20 Daniel Chegodaev 49′), 8 Anton Rudoi, 9 Rushan Yagudin (21 Alexei Shcherban 45′), 10 Yuri Kushnarev, 11 Vasili Artemiev (capt.), 12 Dmitri Gerasimov, 13 Kirill Golosnitskiy (22 Evgeny Kolomiytsev 49′), 14 Denis Simplikevich, 15 Ramil Gaisin (23 Anton Ryabov 49′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) & Chris Assmus (RC)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)
