Job #1 done for the USA in the Hong Kong 7s with a tight win, but a win nonetheless.

The Eagles beat Spain 15-14 in their opening, and only, game on Friday, doing just enough, but it was enough

The clear intent of this team is to use the height and vertical leap of David Still to win restarts and kickoffs. So far the timing isn’t quite there, but the potential is obvious. Still mishandled the opening kickoff, and Spain retained possession, but a long period of USA defense prevented the Lions from making much of a dent.

Malachi Esdale made a couple of key tackles, and the USA bend-don’t-break defense was effective. Eventually Spain lost the ball forward, and Cummings took it up the right sideline before Perry Baker did the same. Now playing a more inside and even playmaker role, Baker did well to keep the ball in the field of play and it was quickly sent wide left where Still sold a dummy and was gone from 50 meters out.

Up 5-0 the USA kicked off and Still was taken out going for the ball. No call and Spain took that possession but again couldn’t get the big break they needed. Instead it came from a tap penalty from the USA inside their own 22. After a tackle the Eagles were summarily rucked off the ball and Josep Seres was in under the posts for a 7-5 Spain lead.

With the first half almost done, this time the USA did get the call for being taken out in the air (Baker was the man going up this time so maybe celebrity has its perks). The Eagles took a scrum and Cody Melphy saw there was no sweeper and hoofed it downfield. Baker got on his horse and was first to the ball, slid down, gathered, and popped it to Melphy who has done well to chase. Melphy was dragged down but somehow flipped a behind-the-back offload from the deck to Baker, who had popped off the ground with some alacrity, and the star was in to make it 10-7 at halftime.

The second half blew by. Spain spent much of it trying to get into scoring position and did get a nice run from Tiago Romero. But overall the USA tackling was accurate and physical … and patient. Spain finally did score, once again isolating a USA ballcarrier in their 22, and outrucking the Americans before Juan Martinez was over. Martinez converted as well and it was 14-10.

Still there was time and after Adam Channel forced a holding-on penalty, the ball was shipped quickly to Esdale, who went in low and scored in the corner.

Up 15-14 the USA now had to finish the game, and they did, once again being patient on defense, getting the ball back, and Esdale after taking two steps to see if the try was on, just kicked to tough.