LAX SVNS - men Day Two
WRAP: Los Angeles hosts the fifth round of HSBC SVNS at the California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.
On Day One host nation United States won a thrilling battle by 31-12 with Samoa in Pool B.
Meanwhile, defending champions New Zealand lost their Trans-Tasman tie with Australia by 24-17 in Pool B. Australia finished 10th last week in Vancouver but a red card for Fehi Fineanganofo helped them to victory over last week’s silver medallists.
Pool A saw plenty of drama as Argentina recovered to win 28-21 in a tense battle with Spain, while Ireland was dominant in their 17-0 win over South Africa to take an early lead in the pool.
Fiji and France were the victors in Pool C, the former snatching a 15-12 win over Great Britain before Canada lost 7-24 to the latter.
* We bring you all the Day Two action!
The updated semi-finals table for tomorrow… Who do you think will win #HSBCSVNSLAX? 🤔👀#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/T0fLMfsgJe
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) March 3, 2024
Cup quarterfinals
Australia19 – 26 Great Britain
The Aussies who has been looking sharp all weekend got the game on they way with a perfect start as NATHAN LAWSON goes over the try line for the opener.
Great Britain responds with one of their own through ETHAN WADDLETON who had his work cut-out for him.
GB gets a penalty as the siren sounds for half time but they decide run the ball, their risk pays off as TOM EMERY as they go 7-14 up at the end of the half.
MORGAN WILLIAMS scores for GB in the second half.
HENRY PALMER & NICK MALOUF scores for Australia to level things up on the scoreboard 19 a piece.
Australia missed an opportunity on the one side of the field after winning a penalty but Team GB makes full use of their opportunity as FEMI SOFOLARIN runs it clear to score in the right hand corner.
GB is through to the Semifinals.
Fiji 19 – 21 Spain
The Flying Fijians got of to a flying start, winning the first 2 kick-off balls back and scoring on both occasions first through PONEPATI LOGANIMASI and then through PILIPO BUKAYARO.
The Spanish are asking questions of the Fiji defense but they fail to convert to pressure into points.
RERE ROPATE scored one more for Fiji in the 1st half taking them 19 unanswered points up in the half.
Fiji first suffered a red card for a dangerous tackle and then a yellow card and played with 5 players. The Spanish made excellent use of their advantage on the numbers by scoring 3 unanswered tries to take the lead. POL PLA scored a brace.
The Spanish make history as they go through to their first ever Cup Semifinals.
Argentina 14 – 24 Ireland
Ireland got off to a good start as they won an early penalty on the ground and then managed to hang unto the ball as they edged closer but the Argentina defensive effort proved unable to break.
The Pumas turned defense into attack as they pushed Ireland back deep into their own half and then win a penalty.
RODRIGO ISGRO opened the scoring for the Pumas after running a superb line.
The Irish stayed in the fight as they responded with a well worked try with TERRY KENNEDY at the end of it.
Argentina stretches their lead ever so slightly at end of the first half through a try by SANTIAGO MARE
The Pumas are reduced to 5 players after 2 back to back yellow cards were awarded against them.
The Irish make full use of the numerical advantage they have and score two tries through JORDAN CONROY & MARK ROCH.
With only a couple of seconds left on the clock it’s JORDAN CONROY who hits the final nail in the coffin as Ireland stops Argentina’s streak
USA 0 – 14 France
Things got off to a slow start as both teams made some silly errors with ball in hand.
France opened the scoring through the man of the moment ANTOINE DUPONT and then they go on to score another try through ANDY TIMO to go 0-14 up in the first half despite playing with a yellow card.
The French suffered a red card and had to see out the rest of the match with 6 players to 7. It was ugly but they managed the game well, starving USA of the ball and not allowing them to geth the ball to their speedster Terry Baker.
Results:
France goes through to the semifinals.
USA 0 vs 14 France
Argentina 14 vs 24 Ireland
Fiji 19 vs 21 Spain
Australia 19 vs 26 Great Britain
Ninth-place semifinals
New Zealand 19 – 7 Canada
The All Blacks, dressed in all white on this occasion got off to a fast start but failed to convert pressure into points.
Canada makes use of the first opportunity they get to score through JOSIAH MORRA
XAVIER TITO-HARRIS scores a brace as the All Blacks started to look a bit comfortable.
CHE CLARK scored the 3rd try of the match for New Zealand as they stretch their lead to 12 points.
New Zealand goes through to face Samoa in the 9th place final
South Africa 10 – 19 Samoa
South Africa got off to a perfect start as ROSKO SPECMAN scores within a few seconds of the kick-off, he boots a loose ball forward and chases it down to score.
Things were evenly contested throughout the rest of the half with both teams frustrating themselves with the number of silly errors they are making.
The Blitzboks get another opportunity and DARREN ADONIS finishes off to them into the half leading (10-0).
The Samoan’s come out fired up for the 2nd half as ELISAPETA ALOFIPO scores early on and then a mistake by the South African’s see TOM MAIAVA go over to bring his team in front for the 1st time in this match.
Things started going South for the Blitzboks after Specman was sent off with a yellow card and Samoa scored another try through UAINA TUI SIONE this time around.
Samoa wins the 1st 9th place play-off.
Results:
New Zealand 19 V7 Canada
South Africa 10 V 19 Samoa
Pool A
Ireland 14 VS 19 Spain
Spain had the perfect start to the day’s fixtures after bagging the first try against Ireland just two minutes into their game. They showed good composure and kept it tight, not allowing Ireland to slip in for a quick try response. Lopez the man who got his name on the board for his side. Spain fought hard to keep Ireland out but two minutes after the hooter the Irish found their way over the line to get a try plus conversion, leveling out the score. The game was at a stalemate going into the break.
In the second half the Irish came out swinging, securing a try and conversion after only a minute. Spain felt they could regain momentum after a yellow card to Jordan Conroy gave the Spanish a man advantage. Fortunately for t hem, Cosculluela was their to deliver the try they needed to bring it back to equal grounds. Two minutes after Ireland’s offence, they decided to go back for seconds, and secured another yellow card for McNulty. Despite the personnel deficit, They withstood Spain’s onslaught. At the game’s dying breath, the Spanish overwhelmed the Irish defence to make it over one minute after the hooter.
Argentina 17 VS 5 South Africa
A contested start as both sides looked to get ball in hand and stamp their brand of play on the tempo of the game. South Africa felt they succeeded after securing the first try, but missed the conversion. Their celebrations were short-lived, after an infringement got them a yellow card. The disciplinary issue gave Argentina the advantage they needed to pull it back but they too missed their conversion kick. They went into the break all squared and five a piece.
The second half looked to be starting off similarly to the first, when at about four minutes in Argentina capitalised on some space offered inadvertently by the South Africans. Gonzalez dashed over the line to further the Argentine lead, and did so again not a minute later. His second try was converted, putting Argentina comfortably ahead.
South Africa 22 – 19 Spain
The Blitzboks got off to a solid start as they dominated the early physical encounters, this created some space out wide and saw ZAIN DAVIDS go over in the right hand corner after a break by playmaker Justin Geduld.
The momentum shifted quickly as the Spanish started to dominated and hold onto the ball. They were rewarded with 2 tries by JOSEP SERRES & EDUARDO LOPEZ as they looked well on their way to perhaps secure a spot in the quarter finals.
The South Africans had different ideas though as they came out with a different intensity in the 2nd half. Scoring 3 unanswered tries through SELVYN DAVIDS, ROSKO SPECMAN & DAVID BRITS.
The Spanish team stayed in the fight and gave themselves a small chance of still progressing with a try by ANTON LEGORBURU ANSO, securing a losing bonus point.
Argentina 26 – 14 Ireland
The Pool A decider and perhaps the game of the day was a close contested affair in the opening minutes and Argentina showed why they are number 1 in the world at the moment, scoring against the run of play with a man in the sinbin. MARCOS MONETA found some space wide and ran straight through.
The Irish managed to make use of their numerical advantage as an unmarked MATTHEW MCDONALD ran straight through for a try of his own.
Marcos Moneta seemed to be through again as he kicked the ball forward into space but was taken out by GAVIN MULLIN who got sent off with a yellow card and a penalty try was awarded to the Pumas to go into the break (14-7)
The 2nd half was contested in similar fashion but the Irish seemed to struggle with their discipline as they committed another yellow card offense.
Los Pumas scored a couple more to take the game away from the Irish as SANTIAGO ALVAREZ & MATTEO GRAZIANO visited behind the try line.
The Irish managed to score a consolation try through TERRY KENNEDY.
Ireland 14 v 19 Spain
Argentina 17 v 5 South Africa
South Africa 22 v 19 Spain
Argentina 26 v 14 Ireland
Pool B
New Zealand 10 VS 7 Samoa
New Zealand drew first blood in this fixture two minutes into it. Samoa did well to not be phased by the early try and showed some expansive moves trying to squeeze out along the wing, but it came to nothing. New Zealand got their hands on it and made quick work of their possession, moving the ball from the half way to the try line with speed. They saw the half out to close, crushing any seedlings of attack from Samoa. Weber bagged both tries for the Kiwis.
The second half showed the trailing side putting in a hard shift for the first few minutes before they eventually cracked through the New Zealand defence. They displayed good resilience to to push through the deficit and make it a contest. The try was converted and they had less than three minutes to play. Despite bringing it within arm’s reach, Samoa was unable to pull ahead.
United States 12 VS 17 Australia
USA and Australia held each other to account in the opening minutes of the first half. Play was kept in the mid field for much of the time until a mistake by Australia in the ruck saw USA shoot forward to the five meter of the visitors. The Eagles made it over, but the try was disallowed. USA felt the wind was in their wings and continued their aggression until they flew through the Australian defence to get the first try of the game. Moments after the hooter sounded Australia found a route through the USA defence and pulled it back. They were unable to convert, so went into the break trailing by two points.
USA came out swinging in the second half, but the visitors were ducked and parried the aggressive maneuvers. Being kept on the backfoot eventually became too much for the Australian side as USA weaved a way through along the flank to secure a second try. After being dominated for much of the second half, the Australian side fired back through a flanking attack of their own to score a try plus conversion. The game progressed into over time
Reminiscent of the first half, play happened in the mid field. A scrum feed for Australia opened things up for them and they orchestrated the attacking play that sent Palmer through to secure them the game in overtime.
Samoa 19 – 28 Australia
The contest got off to a flying start with some end to end stuff as Australia lost the ball forward in front of the try line and then Samoa launched an attack that saw them get in close before the Aussies broke away again and this time JAMES TURNER made sure he dots it down.
MATTHEW GONZALEZ scored soon after for the Wallabies before HENRY PALMER stretched Australia’s lead.
The discipline issues continued for Samoa in the 2nd half and after giving away a penalty the Australian managed to score again as HENRY PALMER found space wide.
The Samoan team finally got a break after DANIEL PATELESIO showed a clean pair of heels on the right wing.
Samoa scored again in quick succession as TOM MAIAVA found a gap through the middle.
The Samoans tried their best to pull this one back as BJ TELEFONI LIMA scored at the death.
New Zealand 19 – 28 United States
New Zealand came out all guns blazing as they scored in the 1st minute SCOTT CURRY but the Eagles then went on to dominate the rest of the half as PERRY BAKER the paceman scored a brace followed by a try by JOE SCHROEDER.
The All Blacks missed an opportunity towards the end of the half but came out with all intent in the 2nd half as JOE WEBBER goes over the try line.
MALACCHI ESDALE scored a try for USA to take the game away from New Zealand.
The All Blacks managed to score with time up on the clock through RODERICK SOLO which could see them sneak through to the quarter final but the conversion kick was missed from the right corner.
New Zealand 10 v 7 Samoa
United States 12 v 17 Australia
Samoa 19 v 28 Australia
New Zealand 19 v 28 United States
Pool C
Fiji 40 VS 0 Canada
Fiji with a splintering start, showing aggression as soon as the kickoff signal is sounded. Canada struggled to stave the hungry Fijans, with limited success, conceding three tries in the first half, all of which were converted by Bolaca. The first half try scorers were Talacolo, Mocenacagi, and Bukayaro.
Fiji picked up right where they left off in the second half, bagging another try plus conversion in the opening minute. Canada played on the back foot for much of the game. Five minutes into the second seven, Sauturaga secured his brace. Still nothing to write home about seen from Canada and by the final whistle they had only managed to concede one more try and conversion to end the game with a deficit of 40 points.
France 19 VS 12 Great Britain
A steady start from Great Britain to make it a contest against fan favourites for this fixture. Both sides tucked heads and fought hard to acquire any advantage, on the scoreboard or otherwise. France came out ahead after five minutes with Edo Martin putting it down to open the scoring. The French did well to quell all great Britain attacks but slipped up at the last when Emery split the defence with the help of his team. They missed the conversion, going into the break trailing by two points.
Great Britain got their fans on their feet by taking the lead early into the second half when Robbie Fergusson made it over for the European rivals. Not even a minute after, France retaliated with a try and conversion of their own, regaining the two point lead. France put the game out of Great Britain’s reach by scoring another try with less than a minute to play. They closed up shop, seeing the game to its end without any crucial mistakes.
Great Britain 31 – 14 Canada
Great Britain got off to a solid start, securing their ball at the kick-off but then Canadians applied pressure on the GB attack forcing them to kick the ball forward after being trapped in their own 22.
ALEX DAVIS followed up on the kick and got a lucky bounce to open up the scoring for GB.
After missing an opportunity the GB team then got lucky again as ROBBIE FERGUSSON collected a line-out over-throw 5m from goal and scored.
It looked as if we were going to go into the break with GB 10 points up to none but the Canadians had a different plan. They managed to score back to back tries through ALEX RUSSELL & KALIN SAGER to go into the break 10-14 up.
GB struck again early in the 2nd half through a MORGAN WILLIAMS try who then went on to score a brace as Great Britain looked a bit more comfortable.
TOM EMERY finished one more try for the GB team as they beat a fighting Canadian out fit.
France 10 -14 Fiji
The Pool C decider was dominated on attack by the French as they spread the ball across the park. JORDAN SEPHO scored an early try in the lefthand corner.
The French team missed a couple opportunities, getting over the try line but failing to score as Fiji first held up the ball behind the goal line and then moments after the ball was lost forward as try scorer Sepho looked to dot it down.
The Flying Fijians responded with a try of their own on the other side of the park after that successful defensive spell. PONEPATI LOGANIMASI finished off for Fiji after a couple of offloads from the Pacific Island men.
The last couple of minutes of the half was very entertaining as we saw both teams go end to end but both teams failed to score.
Fiji continued their momentum in the 2nd half and managed to score another one this time it was FILIPE SAUTURAGA who collected the final offload.
France scored 1 more try through NELSON EPÉE but in the end it was Fiji who came out on top to win the Pool.
Fiji 40 v 0 Canada
France 19 v 12 Great Britain
Great Britain 31 v 14 Canada
France 10 v 14 Fiji
