The USA Eagles survived a scare on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Zimbabwe Sables held a 15-12 half-time lead and had their opponents playing with 14-men following a yellow card. The hosts improved in the second-half to come out 31-15 winners.
The locals in Charlotte had reason to cheer early on. Ruben de Haas combined with Conner Mooneyham to send the latter into the try zone in the 4th minute. It got even better as center Dominic Besag passed to winger Perry Mayo whose try gave the USA Eagles a 12-0 lead.
Zimbabwe then responded to score 15 unanswered points. The Sables scored two tries of their own with Edward Sigauke and Aiden Burnett scoring in the 13th and 22nd minutes. The Eagles needed to turn things around but, instead, found themsleves in a deeper hole after No. 8 Makeen Alikhan was yellow carded. Bruce Houston took the opportunity to slot a penalty for a 15-12 lead.
The Eagles’ response came in the second-half. It came in the form of keeping the Sables scoreless while crossing for two tries. First, second-rower Nathan Den Hoedt burst off a maul to put the Eagles back in front on 56 minutes.
Replacement fly half Luke Carty then added two penalties to open up a 23-15 lead with seven minutes remaining on the game clock. Flanker Cory Daniel sealed the win three minutes from full-time. The flanker scored after good work from Ethan McVeigh.
Zimbabwe now head to the Great White North. The Sables take on Canada in Winnipeg on Saturday, July 18. The USA Eagles make the short trip from Charlotte, NC to Cary, NC where they will face Spain, also on July 18.
| MATCH NOTES |
- The match officially began international competition between the USA and Zimbabwe.
| SCORING |
USA EAGLES (31)
TRY – C Mooneyham (4′), P Mayo (7′), N Den Hoedt (56′), C Daniel (77′)
CON – C Hilsenbeck (5′)
PEN – L Carty (63′, 73′, 80′)
YC – M Alikhan (30′)
ZIMBABWE SABLES (15)
TRY – E Sigauke (13′), A Burnett (22′)
CON – B Houston (23′)
PEN – B Houston (28′)
| TEAMS |
USA EAGLES
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Lance Williams, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Makeen Alikhan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Perry Mayo, 12 Dom Besag, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Nafi Ma’afu, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Luke Carty, 23 Julian Roberts
ZIMBABWE SABLES
1 Victor Mupunga, 2 Liam Larkan, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Gary Porter, 5 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Tino Mavesere (capt.), 7 Jason Fraser, 8 Aiden Burnett, 9 Keegan Joubert, 10 Ian Prior, 11 Edward Sigauke, 12 Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, 13 Dion Khumalo, 14 Matthew McNab, 15 Tapiwa Mafura
Replacements: 16 Simba Mandioma, 17 Tijde Visser, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Tadiwa Gwashu, 20 Simba Siraha, 21 Hilton Mudariki, 22 Bruce Houston, 23 Takudzwa Musingwini
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
Video: To Follow
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Ben Breakspear (Wales) & Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)
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