Wild Win for USA U18 Team
Wild Win for USA U18 Team
The USA U18s defeated Rosario Rugby Academy Saturday in a wild match in Argentina.
The game produced 111 points and was free-flowing throughout.
As expected there was heavy contests at the breakdown and plenty of kicking. In fact, Rosario scored in the first minute off a kick exchange that ended with the ball bouncing for an aggressive chaser. It was 7-0 before anyone had much time to do anything.
The U18s’ defense showed a little better after that and they kept Rosario at bay until a penalty allowed the hosts to launch off a lineout and score in the corner. Corner or in front of the posts was no trouble for their kicker and the score was 14-0.
The USA U18s finally got to work their pattern after that and were strong carrying in traffic and eager to sent it wide. A superb run through multiple tacklers saw the U18s get a try, and then another big run through tacklers set up a second to tie the game at 14-14.
The USA team looked very good with the ball in hand but had to work hard to hang with the pace of the game.
But the USA’s physicality in contact was impressive and they blew through tacklers for two more tries, including a massive run from Macrae /Parker and an excellent fakeout and snipe from Rhys James.
Dylan Trower’s kicking for points was solid and with his conversions the USA ended the first 30-minute period up 26-14.
As they had in the first period, Rosario caught the USA team napping a bit and the Americans’ defense was clustered and a bit confused. The result was a breakaway try off a pick-and-go.
But the USA responded with the forwards driving it over. Rosario answered and were quickly burn by an excellent kick counter started by Jasiah Lolesio-Pua and finished by Neel Menon, who just cut through the Rosario chasers.
Up 40-28, the U18s were very slow to respond to a tap penalty and paid for it. But as the second 30-minute period came to a close, Trace Snellman blazed through a gap, sold a dummy, and galloped for 70 meters and the try. Conversions good and it was 47-35.
So that period was a 21-21 tie, but the final period was all USA. The U18s took a penalty for three points right in front of the sticks. Their defense was solid and it forced Rosario to kick, which didn’t work out too well as the Americans were able to counter well.
Menon got his second in support of a nifty counter-attacking run. Some more good support running produced another long-range score—Parker sent a solid pass out to the wing, got on his horse to follow, and got the return pass to finish. And, after Rosario mauled one over, the forwards made their mark with Ean Glover thundering through off a tap penalty.
So overall some things to work on on defense, but this was also a chance for the USA U18 coaching staff to get everyone on the field and see how they mesh. The result was sometimes a bit disjointed, but certainly the tourists have power and athleticism.
Next up is West Buenos Aires on July 9.
