With Carlin Isles running track, the USA Men's 7s team has asked Perry Baker to put in a full 14 minutes on the wing; the result so far has been wins over France and England, and four tries.

Baker notched his second double Saturday at the Canada 7s in Vancouver, BC as the Eagles edged England 17-12.

It wasn't, in fact, that close. The USA was clearly the better team, but England got a lucky try at the end of the first half, and a try at the end of the game when the Eagles had the result sewn up. But that doesn't mean it was easy. 

Two more for Perry Baker. Photos by David Barpal.

"It's an international game; you're going to have to battle through everything," said Danny Barrett. "It doesn't matter if guys are banged up, you have to battle through."

Early on the Eagles were patient but unable to get through the English defense. But after Barrett forced a penalty in the ruck, they were able to keep the phases going as they worked their way down the field, and then a nice short pass to an onrushing Martin Iosefo put the Eagles up 7-0.

It looked to be 14-0 when Folau Niua sent a grubber kick through for Baker, almost a carbon copy of a try from the first game of the day. Baker raced past Warwick Lahmert but the ball bounced off his hands. England got a scrum, kicked downfield, and pressured. The English were the penalized in the ruck, but the penalty was reversed after Barrett was pinged for something.

One more for Martin Iosefo. Photos by David Barpal.

"He didn't let go of the ball and I was trying to get the ball from him," said Barrett. And so he was. Replays showed clearly the England player not releasing the ball. It should have been a yellow card against England. Instead, it was a penalty for the English, and they sent the ball out to Dan Norton, who scored. 7-7 at halftime.

In the second half, the USA retained the ball well and Baker turned the corner to score out wide and make it 12-7. Still it wasn't settled, until Baker got the ball in space once more. 

"It's unlucky they scored at the end of the first half and at the end of the game, but we put in the kind of hard work we need to," said Barrett. "We're looking for that dog mentality - just run and run and run. The guys just put in the work and we have one more job to do and then the dog can sleep for the night."

Garrett Bender made the engine work nicely. Photos by David Barpal.

That job, of course, is New Zealand at 6:44pm PT. At 2-0 both teams are into the Cup Quarterfinals. The USA has a better points difference than New Zealand, and therefore will win the pool with a tie.

This is a very impressive performance by the Eagles considering the players they are missing due to injury. But Baker has taken on the job of playing all through the game, and Barrett and Bender are playing tough up front.