USA comfortably down Romania

The USA’s impressive year continued today with the Eagles comfortably downing Romania. The Eagles 31-5 victory was their third biggest win over Romania, falling behind a 34-3 win in 2012 and a 37-0 win at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Eagles led for the vast majority of play. They opened the scoring in the 11th minute with scrum half Ruben de Haas crossing. The unconverted try would be matched by Romania as fullback Ionel Melinte went over after a break down the right flank.

The Eagles would not concede further points all match and would quickly regain the lead. They went 12-5 up with center Bryce Campbell scoring. In linking with his fellow England-based mid-fielder, Paul Lasike  the try came with Lasike offloading.

Campbell’s try came in the 24th minute. It would take another 21 minutes for the next. Touching down was Ryan Matyas who ran in to dive over beside the posts. Will Magie converted to give the USA a 19-5 lead.

Not all was going well for the Eagles. Shortly after the try the USA lost Tony Lamborn to a suspected fractured leg. He was reokaced by Hanco Germishuys who made an instant impact. Having broken he linked with Campbell who scored his second try.

Trailing 24-5 Romania looked to be over for their second try. Instead it was called back by the TMO. The valiant defense from the Eagles merited appreciation. The forwards also impressed in the scrum including even forcing the Eastern Europeans backwards.

Scrum half de Haas though would not last the 80 minutes. The first half try scorer joined Lamborn in being helped off the field with a leg injury. On for him came debutant Nick Boyer.

Four minutes from full time the Eagles scored the final points. Swiftly moving of the ball saw them advancing upfield and camping in the Romanian 22. With options left and right Fly half Will Magie delivered a cross kick to Tim Maupin who scored untouched.

The USA conclude their European tour next weekend. In their final match of 2018 they will be up against the world no 2 Ireland in Dublin. Romania now turn their attention to Uruguay who were soundly beaten today by Fiji in England.

 

SCORING

ROMANIA 5
Tries – I. Melinte (14’)
Cons – D. Plai 0/1
Yellow cards – F. Tangimana (35’)

USA 31
Tries – R. de Haas (10’), B. Campbell 2 (23’, 56’), R. Matyas (45’), T. Maupin (77’)
Cons – W. Magie 3/5 (24’, 46’, 78’)

 

TEAMS

ROMANIA
1 Ionel Badiu (18 Constantin Pristavita HT), 2 Andrei Radoi (16 Eugen Capatana 47’), 3 Alex Gordas (17 Alexandru Savin 54’), 4 Adrian Motoc (capt.), 5 Marian Drenceanu (19 Marius Iftimiciuc 67’), 6 Adrian Ion, 7 Johan van Heerden (20 Razvan Ilisescu 58’), 8 Cristi Chirica, 9 Florin Surugiu (21 Valentin Calafeteanu 47’), 10 Daniel Plai, 11 Ionut Dumitru, 12 Fonovai Tangimana, 13 Catalin Fercu, 14 Vladut Zaharia (22 Tudor Boldor 74’), 15 Ionel Melinte (23 Vladut Popa 58’)

USA
1 Titi Lamositele (17 David Ainu’u 52’), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Dylan Fawsitt 55’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Dino Waldren 59’), 4 Greg Peterson (19 David Tameilau 59’), 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Tony Lamborn (20 Hanco Germishuys 52’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Ruben de Haas (21 Nick Boyer 72’), 10 Will Magie, 11 Ryan Matyas (22 Gannon Moore 50’), 12 Paul Lasike (23 Tim Maupin 74’), 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Marcel Brache

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
Assistants: Ian Tempest (RFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)