USA edged by Georgia in Tbilisi

The USA fell agonizingly short to another victory on Georgian side, falling the Lelos by just a single point at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Saturday. A late score from Bryce Campbell gave AJ MacGinty a shot to win the game but his conversion went wide in unfavorable windy conditions.

It was the Eagles who also scored first, with Joe Taufete’e falling over the line at the back of a perfectly executed driving maul. The Georgians forwards were clearly upset with the score and resolved to fire back immediately. It took longer than they would have liked but eventually a penalty try was awarded at a 5m scrum to give the home side the lead.

MacGinty missed a penalty shot but then a turn of fortunes as Vito Kolelishvili was sent to the bin for a late and dangerous tackle on Marcel Brache. From the lineout the Eagles again found success with the maul and again it was Big Joe who was on the end for his second. This time MacGinty connected and the visitors regained the advantage.

It would not last long. Georgia powered ahead and grabbed a try from close range through Levan Chilachava. He would go from hero to villain in an instant when he was caught taking liberties with his elbow. The numerical disadvantage did not phase the Lelos this time and Jaba Bregvadze carried over the line from a bit of deception off the lineout. Matiashvili’s conversion made it 21-12 at the break.

The second half saw the USA enjoying large stretches of possession but they could not turn pressure into points. MacGinty finally landed a penalty goal to make it a one-score game but repeat penalties landed Huluholo Mo’ungaloa in the naughty chair after another scrum collapse.

With time winding down Tony Lamborn managed to free the ball in a tackle for Campbell to burst through and into the corner. The angle made the kick too difficult in the wind and the Eagles were forced to watch as Georgia ground down the clock for the win.

That brings a close to the November international series for both sides, with tournament ahead in the spring. The USA will play in the Americas Rugby Championship, while Georgia prepare for the Rugby Europe Championship (Six Nations B).

 

SCORING

GEORGIA 21
Tries – Penalty try (17′), L. Chilachava (29′), J. Bregvadze (38′)
Cons – S. Matiashvili 2/2 (30′, 39′)
Pens – S. Matiashvili 0/1
Yellow cards – V. Kolelishvili (23′), L. Chilachava (32′)

USA 20
Tries – J. Taufete’e 2 (6′, 24′), B. Campbell (77′)
Cons – A. MacGinty 1/3 (25′)
Pens – A. MacGinty 1/2 (59′)
Yellow cards – H. Mo’ungaloa (67′)

 

TEAMS

GEORGIA
1 Mikheil Nariashvili (17 Zurab Zhvania 64′), 2 Jaba Bregvadze (16 Shalva Mamukashvili 64′), 3 Levan Chilachava (18 Soso Bekoshvili 67′), 4 Giorgi Chkhaidze (19 Giorgi Nemsadze 51′), 5 Kote Mikautadze, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili (20 Lasha Lomidze 51′), 7 Vito Kolelishvili (21 Giga Tkhilaishvili 62′), 8 Beka Bitsadze, 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze (22 Gela Aprasidze 7′), 10 Revaz Jinchvelashvili, 11 Mirian Modebadze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 Merab Sharikadze (capt.), 14 Soso Matiashvili, 15 Merab Kvirikashvili (23 Lasha Malaguradze 67′)

USA
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Huluholo Moungaloa 15′), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Peter Malcolm 59′), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Paddy Ryan 53′), 4 Greg Peterson (19 Nate Brakeley 63′), 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Ben Landry (20 Andrew Durutalo 74′), 7 John Quill (21 Tony Lamborn 53′), 8 Samu Manoa, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Ryan Matyas (22 Nate Augspurger 78′), 12 Bryce Campbell (23 Will Magie 78′), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Blaine Scully (capt.)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistants: Ian Tempest (RFU) & Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)