Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The USA South Panthers defeated Hungary 35-12 to begin their Central European tour. Played in in Szazhalombatta near Budapest the Panthers came out clean winners against Hungary’s national team.
Game two of the tour will take place tomorrow, on Wednesday August 29 against Austria while the tour will conclude on Saturday September 01 against the Czech Republic.
Again Hungary the USA Rugby South Panthers started strongly. An early penalty shot, however, was off target with Lucas Baistrocchi’s strike sailing wide.
Minutes later the USA South Panthers lost Colton Cariage to injury. The fullback from Life University went down with a broken arm and will play no further part in the tour.
Without Cariaga the USA South Panthers adjusted by moving Zach Blalock from outside center to fullback. Black left an instant impact by scoring the game’s opening try. The unconverted score gave the USA South Panthers a 5-0 lead.
Hungary looked to strike back but the USA South Panthers instead counter attacked and punished the home side. Quick ball from scrum-half Zach Miller got the Americans down field quickly and it would result in a try under the posts.
30 minutes into the match saw the USA South Panthers scoring again, doing so via Irving Carcamo. With it they led 19-0 and the scores remained as such until halftime.
Despite trailing by 19 points Hungary played the better rugby in the late stages of the opening half. This continued into the second half and the Europeans were rewarded with a try.
The USA South Panthers hit-back via Lucas Baistrocchi who landed two penalties. He then went over for two tries to give the Panthers a 35-7 lead. Hungary would score a late try to end the scoring at 35-12.
USA SOUTH PANTHERS ROSTER
Amro Gouda (NOLA Gold), Austin Dacanay (Tampa Krewe), Ben Foley (Fort Hood), Bradley Yandle (Austin Blacks), Brendan Smith (Birmingham), Calvin Storey (Raleigh), Cameron Tompkins (Western Kentucky), Colton Cariaga (Life University), Cormac Kenan (Southern Pines), David Coleman (Denver Barbarians), David Williams (Chattanooga), Hein Erasmus (Miami Tridents), Ian Lehn (Atlanta Old White), Irving Carcamo (Charlotte), Jamal Hadley (Old Blue), Jarrett Gartin (Atlanta Old White), Jason Riekena (Life University), John Bryant (Charleston), Jordan Gunderson (Denver Barbarians), Keenan Kayser (University of Tennessee), Lucas Baistrocchi (Atlanta Old White), Michael Martínez (Nashville), Nathan Ring (Nashville), Ross Depperschmidt (University of Alabama), Stephen Cappello (Mystic River), Trey Eason (Southern Pines), Waymon Cassell (Nashville), Willis Hardaway (University of Memphis), Zach Blalock (Birmingham), Zach Jessell (Pittsburgh Harlequins), Zach Miller (Southern Pines)
