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 “Turnovers led to that scoreline spread,” USA Men’s National Team coach Eddie O’Sullivan said, “and that’s a big price to pay for not holding onto the ball. “It’s a lesson they have to learn quickly,” he added. “Teams of this caliber will make you pay for your mistakes.” The USA side, like last week, started strong, forcing its opponent to play on its back foot in the first five minutes. The Eagles found themselves deep in Welsh territory with an opportunity to get on the board following a couple of early penalties by the visitors. The U.S. wouldn’t capitalize, however, and eventually would turn the ball over to the Welsh, losing some coveted ground. Both teams missed a couple early opportunities, but Wales was quick to recover, and even quicker to take the easy three points, getting on the board just under 10 minutes into the match. With a bit more assurance, Wales took the option to kick again, just two minutes later, hitting a penalty kick from 35 meters and making the scoreline 6-0. The U.S. followed suit in the 13th minute, as Gavin DeBartolo marked the Eagles first three points of the game, from nearly the same distance. In the first half, the Eagles would triple the amount of
penalties of its counterpart, and see one player yellow-carded.
Wales, on the other hand, would use that momentum to score three
tries against the young team, the first of which was a break-away
try by Tom James who saw space out wide in the 15th minute.
The U.S. stood its ground for the next 13 minutes, keeping an impenetrable wall against some very impressive Welsh offense, but in the end, the U.S. would commit repeated infringements within the red zone and the referee would award the visitors with a try and the Eagles’ John Van der Giessen with a yellow card. The conversion was successful and the halftime whistle allowed a moment of reflection, for the Eagles, as they faced 24-point differential in the second half. “We expected the Welsh to play well at pace,” O’Sullivan said. “They did exactly what we knew they were capable of if they got it out wide. “When we finally reeled them in the second half, we ended up turning the ball over. They scored three tries in the second half off our turnovers and that was a harsh lesson to learn.” The U.S. did come out of halftime a bit sharper than it went in. Forcing Welsh penalties and dominating possession deep in Wales’ territory. Finally after several punches into the Welsh defensive wall, the Eagles’ Mike Petri passed it out wide and Alipate Tuilevuka sliced inside for the first American try of the day. DeBartolo’s conversion was good and the score was 27-10 with just over 25 minutes to go. Possession would alternate for the next 10 minutes, with Wales
getting some close, but fruitless attacks at the try line. Finally,
a grubber kick to the outside would seal the deal for the Welsh, as
they chased it down for seven more points in the 63rd
minute. The U.S., however, wouldn’t go quietly, giving the home crowd something to cheer about in the last play of the game, as J.J. Gagiano bullied his way through the Welsh defense and placed down what would eventually be awarded a try. The conversion would just miss, but the U.S. had played until the final whistle for the second week in a row. “I continue to see improvement,” O’Sullivan said. “And I am happy to see this team giving it their all for 80 minutes. We have to pick ourselves up and learn from this.” The U.S. has just a few days of recovery before taking on the Argentina Jaguars in their first match of the Churchill Cup at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo., on Wednesday, June 10. Wales (48) USA (15) USA Eagles Summer Schedule and Broadcast Info Churchill Cup June 14 Churchill Cup Finals
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