Blaine Scully scored a hat-trick of tries but could not prevent a 37-29 defeat for the USA against Japan in their opening game of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
Leicester Tigers wing Scully almost opened his account in the seventh minute of the match, beating three defenders before being stopped just short of the tryline.
But, as the USA trailed 17-10 on the half-hour, Scully received a pass from Saracens back Chris Wyles to score his third international try. Wyles added the conversion to level the scores.
Japan led again at 32-17 with 25 minutes remaining, as Scully added his second score, latching on to work from Seamus Kelly and Danny Barrett before diving in on the right.
He completed his hat-trick after more good work from Wyles to cut ther gap to five points at 34-29 but Japan just managed to close out the remaining time and added a penalty to remain out of reach.
Scully said: “In the first half the scores were even and we were pretty happy with our position. But we were unable to match their intensity [at the start of the second half] and it was hard to come back from that. We need to put in an 80-minute performance.”
The USA Eagles continue their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Canada in Sacramento next Saturday.
Tigers prop Logovi’i Mulipola, meanwhile, shared in Samoa’s 15-0 win over Italy in Apia on Saturday.
Tusi Pisi kicked five penalties to record a fifth win over Italy in six meetings.
Italy included new Tigers signings Robert Barbieri and Leonardo Ghiraldini in their starting pack.
Leicester Tigers wing Scully almost opened his account in the seventh minute of the match, beating three defenders before being stopped just short of the tryline.
But, as the USA trailed 17-10 on the half-hour, Scully received a pass from Saracens back Chris Wyles to score his third international try. Wyles added the conversion to level the scores.
Japan led again at 32-17 with 25 minutes remaining, as Scully added his second score, latching on to work from Seamus Kelly and Danny Barrett before diving in on the right.
He completed his hat-trick after more good work from Wyles to cut ther gap to five points at 34-29 but Japan just managed to close out the remaining time and added a penalty to remain out of reach.
Scully said: “In the first half the scores were even and we were pretty happy with our position. But we were unable to match their intensity [at the start of the second half] and it was hard to come back from that. We need to put in an 80-minute performance.”
The USA Eagles continue their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Canada in Sacramento next Saturday.
Tigers prop Logovi’i Mulipola, meanwhile, shared in Samoa’s 15-0 win over Italy in Apia on Saturday.
Tusi Pisi kicked five penalties to record a fifth win over Italy in six meetings.
Italy included new Tigers signings Robert Barbieri and Leonardo Ghiraldini in their starting pack.
