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The USA completed a scrappy win over a dogged Hong Kong at Bourdg en Bresse in France on Sunday. It was a dreadful performance from the USA Eagles who needed a late try to avoid a humiliating loss against the team that will debut at the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.
The USA Eagles actually dominated both possession and territory yet were poor with their execution. Clumsiness with the ball was a theme as the North Americans managed to hand Hong Kong two gift tries and were far from the team that defeated Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain in July.
Hong Kong opened the scoring. Center Marcos Ramage scored on 5 minutes for the Asia No. 2. The USA hit-back through fullback Perry Mayo on 11 minutes. The lead came with a conversion from Christopher Hilsenbeck. The former German international converted three tries in the match.
A solid period was underway for the Eagles as No. 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz added a second try inside the opening quarter. The North Americans were 14-7 up as the second quarter commenced.
Any thoughts that the higher-ranked side was on course for a comfortable victory proved inaccurate, however, as the Eagles failed to add further first-half points. In contrast, Hong Kong added points to lead 17-14 at half-time. Flanker Jack Bartlett scored and Nathan De Thierry converted in addition to landing a penalty.
Hong Kong did not score a try in the second-half yet maintained themselves in the contest with three penalties. The USA Eagles scored twice with a penalty try just before the third quarter concluded and then the match-winner four minutes from full-time.
Hong Kong led 26-21 with nine minutes remaining on the match-clock. Perseverance from the forwards saw the Eagles go ahead with five minutes remaining. Kaleb Geiger’s try was vital and with Hilsenbeck converting the North Americans were back in the lead.
Hong Kong had a late chance to hit back after the Eagles kicked the ball out on the full. The nervous final minutes ended with the Eagles intercepting and kicking the ball out for the final whistle.
The USA Eagles now turn their attention to Romania. The Eagles’ take on the Oaks in Bucharest at the beautiful Stadionul Național Arcul de Triumf on Saturday, November 14. Hong Kong remain in France to face Canada, also next Saturday, in Chambery.
| NOTES |
- Oscar Lennon earned his first start for the USA.
| SCORING |
HONG KONG (26)
TRY – M Ramage (5′), J Bartlett (38′)
CON – N de Thierry 2 (6′, 39′)
PEN – N de Thierry 2 (27′, 57′), D McCann 2 (65′, 71′)
YC – H Sayers (11′), J Hrstich (41′)
USA (28)
TRY – P Mayo (10′), J Fa’anana-Schultz (19′), Penalty Try (59′), K Geiger (76′)
CON – C Hilsenbeck 3 (11′, 20′, 77′), No Kick (59′)
| TEAMS |
HONG KONG
1 Sunia Fameitau, 2 Alexander Post, 3 Faizal Solomona, 4 James Rivers, 5 Maximilian Murphy, 6 Jack Bartlett, 7 Callum McCullough, 8 Joshua Hrstich (capt.), 9 Jack Combes, 10 Nathan De Thierry, 11 Harry Sayers, 12 Isaac Campbell-Wu, 13 Marcus Ramage, 14 Seb Brien, 15 Dylan McCann
Replacements: 16 Harry Baron, 17 Thomas Concu, 18 Keelan Chapman, 19 Lachlan Doheny, 20 Dana Fourie, 21 Eric Chui Wai Lap, 22 Joe Barker, 23 Tom Hill
USA
1 Payton Telea, 2 Shilo Klein, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Benjamin Bonasso, 7 Makeen Alikhan, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Oscar Lennon, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Noah Brown, 12 Dominic Besag, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Perry Mayo
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Charlie Abel, 19 Sam Golla, 20 Marno Redelinghuys, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Tom Pittman
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
Video: To Follow
