But the Eagles could not get back into scoring position again for some time. Their kicking game wasn't firing the way it needs to be, and a kick out on the full didn't help. Another led to three points the other way as de Thierry fielded a kick, sold a dummy, and took off. He had Ramage with him and Hong Kong pressured after that. Eventually Fa'anana-Schultz was penalized for being offside and de Thierry slotted the penalty goal from 23 meters.
Opportunity Missed
The Eagles did not score further in the first half. They had a promising half-break from Mayo but again he opted not to use his teammates and ended up throwing the ball into touch. They mauled it close and hooker Shilo Klein popped off the back but he was held up in-goal.
One wonders if scrumhalf Oscar Lennon would have been better off taking that ball.
Hong Kong got out of trouble and a nice charge from Rivers got them to midfield. From a ruck right on halfway flanker Jack Bartlett looked up and saw no one guarding the A channel and the big loose forward just picked up the ball and charged ahead. Mayo and wing Noah Brown tried to get him but both were summarily dismissed and Bartlett was in from 50 meters out.
De Thierry converted and Hong Kong had a 17-14 lead thanks in large part to two very soft tries.
Hong Kong got another yellow card early in the first half for a dangerous hit but the USA could not take advantage. They had ball inside the Hong Kong 22 but the attack was tracked well by the Dragons. Then the USA obstructed on a maul.
Instead, it was Hong Kong that got the next points, kicking deep, pressuring the Americans, and finally getting a penalty that de Thierry put over.
The Eagles were able to pressure off the restart and were once again crashing into the HK defense in good scoring position. But they weren't moving the ball within the forwards the way have in the recent past, and the Dragons held firm.
Back-and-Forth
However, the Eagles did finally score. They got a penalty try off a scrum, something they don't get that often, and, yes, the USA scrum has been much improved. Seven points, and it was 21-20 USA.
USA indiscipline led to Hong Kong points once more. The American defense, including defending the HK maul, was there, but they kept giving up penalties. McCann put one over at 65 minutes. Then a weird play, as a clearance kick from Hong Kong smacked Marno Redelninghuys in the face and richocheted into Mayo. Surely accidenly offside and a scurm ... no ... a penalty. This was a harsh call, but Hong Kong got into scoring position because of it and were a fumbled pass away from scoring under the posts.
A free kick off a scrum gave the Dragons another chance close-in but captain Jason Damm and flanker Makheen Alikhan combined to stop that. When the USA was penalized again, Hong Kong opted for points to extend their lead to 26-21.
Now was the time for the USA finishers to finish. But once again they were held up in-goal.
Geiger Counters
With less than five minutes to go the USA got a penalty for offside and took the lineout. Hong Kong stopped the maul well, but the Eagles retained the ball. Then, another weird play. The ball was knocked out of the hands of Redelinghuys and squirted back to where Geiger was busy getting in position. The hard-headed hooker simply picked up the ball, dodged a tackler, and stretched over the line.
It was a try of pure desire. It was a tough angle for Hilsenbeck but he slotted this kick, too, and the USA led 28-26.
The Eagles didn't make the final moments easy. Michael Baska's box kick went out on the full (in his defense the ruck from whence he kicked was barely on the 22-meter-line and you could see why he thought he was OK). But Rivers had the ball stripped away by Cassh Maluia and the USA was able to clear and defend, and when a pass landed in Ben Bonasso's hands he just booted it into the stands.
You Don't Win With Stats
The USA had once again won a game within three points. This wasn't a great performance from the Eagles. They were not varied in their attack in the 22, they weren't sufficiently precise, and they made some basic errors in ho you cross the line to score, and how you use your width.
This is evidenced by the stats. The Eagles had about 60% of possession and 60% of territory, and only won by two points. They gained more meters, had more line breaks, and more offloads. They won 100% of their scrums and stole half of Hong Kong's. Their lineout functioned well, as did their maul. They tackled more successfully than Hong Kong.
The Dragons got six turnovers to USA's five, gave up fewer penalties, and the meters gained wasn't massively different, which again indicates that there needs to be variety in the attack.
Still, the Eagles dominated in almost every statistical category ... and won by two.
But they did win, and the game was close in part because the USA was a bit unlucky on their tries. But there is much to work on with Romania up next week, and you have to think that if anyone is celebrating this result, it's Hong Kong.
USA 28
Tries: Mayo, Fa'anana-Schultz, Geiger, Penalty Try
Convs: Hilsenbeck 3
Hong Kong China 26
Tries: Ramage, Bartlett
Convs: de Thierry 2
Pens: de Thierry 2, McCann 2
