Isles scores three in Eagles' defeat of Canada in Tokyo
TOKYO – The Men’s Eagles Sevens bounced back from their earlier loss at Tokyo Sevens Saturday by beating Canada, 22-14, for the third time of the 2014-15 World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series.
Carlin Isles scored three tries and made a sizable defensive contribution in the victory, which keeps the Eagles in the hunt for the Cup round. A result against South Africa at 5:58 a.m. ET Saturday in the final match of Pool C could give the Eagles enough points to qualify.
Play was stopped in the second minute of the match as the Eagles looked to gain midfield, following a choppy start with multiple penalties awarded. Danny Barrett went into contact with Lucas Hammond, who stayed on the pitch. Play resumed, as did the physicality from the Eagles, with Maka Unufe standing up his opposite number before Canada lost the ball forward.
The Eagles lost the ball not far from their own try line in the fifth minute and Canada jumped on the opportunity to open the scoring. Justin Douglas took a tackler out of the play and offloaded to Mike Fuailefau for the try.
Much like the end of the first half in the loss to Kenya at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground, the Eagles sought a try to cut the deficit before the halftime whistle. Madison Hughes sent a grubber kick from inside the defensive half to Canada’s 22, but Unufe could not reach it before it rolled into touch.
Well into the seventh minute, Barrett and Nick Edwards forced a turnover in a counterruck stemming from the lineout. Barrett popped the ball out of the ruck for his teammates to set up Isles’ first try of the match. The Eagles nearly overtook Canada’s 7-5 lead at the end of the half with time expired on the clock, but a knock forced the referee’s whistle.
Test was tackled as he caught the second-half restart, and Isles was there to take the ball from the ruck. The Eagles’ try-scorer showed his rugby smarts by utilizing the gap on the wing and got in behind the defensive line of Canada. Not even the sweeper could get a hand to Isles as he cut inside to the uprights. Hughes’ conversion gave the Eagles a 12-7 lead.
The restart again found the hand of Test as it was slapped backwards to the awaiting Garrett Bender, who drove his opposite number towards the try line. Canada took a penalty in the breakdown and the Eagles moved the ball wide. Edwards got the Eagles close and Test finished the play by diving around his teammate in-goal.
The Eagles took the 17-7 lead into the 13th minute, when Test’s clearance kick in-goal was blocked by Canada. Barrett, onside due to the touch on the ball, got a grip to keep it in the U.S.’s possession. The ball was lost in the breakdown, however, and Conor Trainor offloaded from the ground in front of the try line for John Moonlight to score.
Canada converted its second try to pull within three points at 17-14, but Isles made sure the lead stuck with a try in the final minute of the match for a 22-14 final.
The U.S. will finish play in Pool C at Tokyo Sevens against Series-leading South Africa at 5:58 a.m. ET Saturday. The seventh leg of the 2014-15 World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series can be viewed on Universal Sports, and live updates will be provided by @USARugby on Twitter.
Men’s Eagles Sevens | v. Canada
1. Carlin Isles
2. Nic Edwards
3. Danny Barrett
4. Garrett Bender
5. Zack Test
6. Andrew Durutalo
7. Folau Niua
8. Maka Unufe
9. Nate Augspurger
10. Madison Hughes (C)
11. Perry Baker
12. Mataiyasi Leuta
Canada | v. USA
1. Sean White
2. Admir Cejvanovic
3. Mike Fuailefau
4. John Moonlight
5. Conor Trainor
6. Pat Kay
7. Lucas Hammond
8. Justin Douglas
9. Liam Underwood
10. Ciaran Hearn
11. Harry Jones
12. Adam Zaruba
Men’s Eagles Sevens | 22
Tries: Isles (3), Test
Conversions: Hughes
Canada | 14
Tries: Fuailefau, Moonlight
Conversions: Jones (2)
Men’s Eagles Sevens | Tokyo Sevens
v Kenya – L 27-5
v Canada – W 22-14
v South Africa – Saturday, April 4 – 5:58 a.m. ET
