TOOWOOMBA, Queensland - The USA Rugby Men's Collegiate All Americans defeated Darling Downs 31-17 in the opening game of a three-match tour of Australia, sponsored by WellDog.

The All Americans rebounded from a shaky start that was punctuated by a couple of errors you could chalk up to this being a recently-assembled team, but as time went on put together some meaningful rugby on a chilly, wet night in Southern Queensland.

The All Americans started off nicely on the front foot and looked to go wide early, but flyhalf Andrew Turner of the regional select side Darling Downs stepped in front of the pass and was off to score under the posts for an early 7-0 for Darling Downs.

Moments later, a high ball was mishandled by wing Deion Mikesell, and from the ensuing scrum Darling Downs scored in the corner to make it 12-0. To their credit, though, the USA tourists did not fold and did not turn on each other. They settled down, and challenged the Darling Downs defenders. A snappy moved from Nick Boyer (Cal) at scrumhalf off the back of a lineout set up flyhalf Conor Kearns (Trinity) who linked with outside center Bryce Campbell (Indiana). Campbell tried to set Mikesell free but there were bodies  all over the place. However, the All American support was there to the breakdown, and Darling Downs was penalized. Boyer took the tap quickly - something he did all night - and fed prop Mason Pedersen (Arizona), who thundered over. 

Kearns hit the conversion to make it 12-7. 

The All Americans forced another penalty at midfield and Kearns popped a superb touchfinder to start things off for the Americans. They won the lineout and used captain and flanker Aladdin Schirmer (CWU), and lock Malon Al-Jiboori (Lindenwood) to power ahead. Then Boyer swung it back left, where flanker Wes Hartmann (Kutztown) linked with hooker Chad Gough (Utah). Gough was another player who stood out. He was everywhere, always doing something useful, and this time he sent a long, accurate pass out to Mikesell, who made no mistake and raced in for the try.

Mikesell (Lindenwood) almost made it two tries in quick succession. A break out of their own 22 got the All Americans going, and Boyer once again caused Darling Downs problems. He fet up Mikesell, who powered through one tackler and out-paced another. He was caught as he dove over the line. The touchdown looked good, but borderline, and the try was disallowed.

But the All Americans' scrum was overpowering. They forced a change in put-in, and then No. 8 Vili Helu (Saint Mary's) just picked up and went over to make it 17-12.

The All Americans were nicely placed to score again, but just as they were pushing right on the line, a fight broke out among some of the backs at an old breakdown. After some deliberation from the officials, Mikesell and Darling Downs center Harry Hawker were given ten minutes on the sideline to think about their actions, and the game went on.

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What ensued was a series of scrums and balls held up. Helu unveiled the Saint Mary's bunny-hop move at No. 8 as the pack tried to shove the ball over. None of it produced a try, until Kearns popped a perfect kick out to BYU's Tua Laei, taking Mikesell's spot on the left wing. He caught it and touched down to make it, with the Kearns conversion, 24-12.

In the second half, the All Americans approach was more structured at times, but also struggled because so many subs (the game was open subs) were used. As a result, the tourists had possession and territory, but made little mistakes that hurt their scoring chances. Mostly it was a little fatigue (and remember, they were playing in the early morning hours US time) and a little impatience in trying to score on first or second phase, rather than 5th or 6th.

A wayward pass set up a turnover and try for Nick Poole for Darling Downs to make it 24-17, and much of the period after that try was spent with Darling Downs kicking for territory, and the All Americans defending.

But they finally got on the front foot, and some good work from scrumhalf/wing Roland Blackiston (Long Beach State) and others worked the All Americans through the phases. The ball went out to Gough, who offloaded to wing/center Calvin Whiting (BYU), who put on a few sidesteps and was in at the corner. Dyland Audlsey (Saint Mary's) hit the sideline conversion, curving it in thanks to the wind, and it was 31-17.

A nifty break by flanker Zach Bonte (UCLA) put prop Alex Maughan through for a nice run, and after that the All Americans seemed in control - Niall Barry (UCLA) making some nice runs and Mo Katz (James Madison) made his presence felt - but they couldn't quite get that last try.

Still it was a nice run-out for everyone. Helu was at the center of a very nice back row performance with Schirmer and Hartmann. Boyer was superb, getting the ball moving, always ready to tap quickly to scare the hosts, and reading the field. Mikesell had a very eventful day, both good and bad, but on balance showed how he is a dangerous player on the wing. Kearns was very good at flyhalf, but the man of the hour in the first half was probably Gough, who set up two tries and showed some very good open field play, but also got stuck in, was very accurate at the lineout, and was part of a good scrum effort.

You can see the entire game here.

All Americans 31

Tries: Pedersen, Mikesell, Helu, Laei, Whiting

Convs: Kearns 2, Audsley

 

Darling Downs 17

Tries: Turner, Jamieson, Poole

Convs: Gilbert

 

AIG Men's Collegiate All-Americans Starting 15
1. Chance Wenglewski - Lindenwood University
2. Chad Gough -  University of Utah
3. Mason Pedersen - University of Arizona
4. Malon Al-Jiboori - Lindenwood University
5. Matt Jensen - BYU
6. Wes Hartmann - Kutztown
7. Aladdin Schirmer - Central Washington
8. Vili Helu - Saint Mary's
9. Nick Boyer - California
10. Conor Kearns - Trinity (Dublin University)
11. Deion Mikesell - Lindenwood University
12. Cody Melphy - Life University
13. Bryce Campbell - Indiana
14. Vetekina Malafu - Kutztown
15. Tua Laei - BYU

Reserves:

Dylan Audsley - Saint Mary's College of California
Niall Barry - University of California, Los Angeles
Alec Barton - Saint Mary's College of California
Roland Blackiston - California State University, Long Beach
Zach Bonte - University of California, Los Angeles
Scott Dean - Central Washington University
Cody Jerabek - Sacramento Express (PRO) / University of Wyoming
Timothy Katz - James Madison University
Alex Maughan - Life University
Kevin O'Connor - Saint Mary's College of California
Mike Ruther - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Alexander Vorster - Brigham Young University
Dino Waldren - Saint Mary's College of California
Calvin Whiting - Brigham Young University

Darling Downs Select Side
1. Jack Cook
2. Sam Hogarth
3. Brett Corish
4. Sonny Power (C)
5. Sam Tweedy
6. Lachlan Tulloch
7. John Vinson
8. Tom Simpson
9. Will Gilbert
10. Andrew Turner
11. Zac Boland
12. Harry Hawker
13. Cameron Griffin
14. Nick Poole
15. Mic Jamieson

Darling Downs Reserves
16. Brett Huth
17. Baci Wilson
18. Matt Roberts
19. Robert Patterson
20. Luke Johnston
21. John Moloney
22. Steve McVeigh
23. Eric Donaldson
24. Paul Maguire
25. Dan Ostwald