Samoa beat the USA 31-19 in the Plate Final at the Canada 7s in Vancouver. 

In the end, the Samoans played a very good form of defense, pushing the USA team back, and slowing the ball down in the breakdown. 

As a result, little turnovers became big problems for a starting seven that had put everything not the weekend’s effort.

Samoa opened the scoring by pushing the USA back and eventually turnover the ball over in the ruck. A cutback and than a second inside offload - something that worked nicely for them in the game, set up Belgium Tuitagaloa for a try.

Samoa then stole the ball int he ruck again, went to one side, then there other, and Alefosio Tapili was in to make it 12-7.

The Eagles finally got something going. Forced backward once more, they got a penalty just in front of their own goal line. Garrett Bender tapped quickly and took off. He had the sweeper to beat but was frantically looking around for faster support, which was getting there. He beat the sweeper, and then offloaded to Madison Hughes to finish it off.

But any hopes of a full comeback were kiboshed in the second half when Samoa Toloa and then Tomasi Alosio scored. The first try came with the Eagles pressing in the corner. They lost the ball and Samoa went the distance. Alosio then scored right off the restart.

Hughes goes in for his first try. Steve Seiller photo. http://gallery.summit-lights.com/Events/2016-HSBC-Vancouver-Sevens

With the changes being rung, the USA bench mounted a comeback and Nate Augspurger ducked and bobbed and weaved out of trouble several times while he hightailed it to the line. He didn’t quite make it, but the support was there to send it to Hughes.

At 26-14 the game was still within reach, but Samoa powered down the left sideline and Alex Samoa scored in the corner.

The Eagles finished off with a nice team try capped off by a good run from Ben Leatigaga, but it wasn’t enough.

USA Coach Mike Friday praised his team’s effort level and attitude this week, and certainly they worked hard. But Friday also asked his starters to put in significant minutes. Perry Baker played every minute of every game until the Plate Final. The starters probably logged at least 60 minutes apiece. The Eagles get 12 points for being Plate Runners Up, and remain 5th, albeit now by more than points difference as they finished higher than Argentina.