In a replay of Saturday's game, the USA Rugby Men's National Team jumped to an early 3-0 on a Francois Viljoen penalty goal in the fifth minute, but momentum changed sides quickly as the New Zealand Maori showed what a full professional side can accomplish in handing the Eagles a 74-6 loss in front of 3,562 fans at Buck Shaw Stadium here Wednesday night.
The Maori scored 12 tries, led by eventual Man of the Match Kristian Ormsby who scored three of his game-high four in the second half. Teammate Cory Jane added three. Zar Lawrence, Shannon Paku and Noble each added one more. Flyhalf Matt
Berquist converted seven of the 12.
Following Vijoen's penalty goal, the Maori responded with 17 unanswered points before Viljoen would capitalize on a Pehi Te Whare penalty in the 28th minute for what would be the Eagles' final score of the match.
The Maori went into overdrive with three tries in the final 10 minutes of the opening stanza. Flanker Liam Messam set up the first with a break up the middle that was dished off to flyhalf Shannon Paku for the score. Paku also set up the second with two kicks, one was a chip and chase recovered himself and then kicked again to the open field where left wing Zar Lawrence picked it up and went unopposed for the score with five minutes remaining in the half.
The Maori closed the half with a great fake by Noble who took the ball into the try zone for 36-6 halftime advantage.
With their feet still on the gas pedal, the Maori connected for three tries in the first eight minutes of the second half, with Jane putting his mark on two of them in the 42nd and 48th minutes, respectively. Ormsby scored the third in the 45th with a great 30-meter run along the right touchline.
Messam scored his second try on the night in the 55th minute with a powerful run to the right of the goalposts.
The Eagles had a great moment snatched from them when replacement Mark Aylor came within inches of a score but was stopped just short of the goal line and the Maori were able to regain possession in the ensuing ruck to halt the threat.
Ormsby scored his third try for the Maori near their far left touchline in the 69th, bringing the score to 67-6 and his fourth with three minutes remaining in the match for the final 74-6 score.
Eagles coach Peter Thorburn of the Maori's effort, "They took advantage of our turnovers and did very well at that."
The Maori will play Ireland A in the final match of the Barclay's Churchill Cup here Saturday at 2 p.m. The winner will meet Scotland A in the Churchill Cup title match on Saturday, June 17 in Edmonton, Alberta. Scotland A secured a place in the game with a 15-10 over host Canada in Ottawa Wednesday. The second and third place finishers from each pool will also face each other that same day in Bowl and Plate finals.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available through 408/554-4660 and www.santaclarabroncos.com and at the stadium.
The match will be broadcast on the Rugby Channel at MediaZone.com and will be available to stream or download Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
NEW ZEALAND MAORI: 15. Shannon Paku (Anthony Tahana @49); 14. Zar Lawrence ; 13. Richard Kahui; 12. Pehi Te Whare; 11. Cory Jane; 10. Matt Berquist; 9. Chris Smyley (Corey Tamou @47); 1. Greg Feek; 2. Luke Mahoney; 3. Mike Noble; 4.
Kristian Ormsby; 5. Paul Tito (capt.) (Ross Filipo @55); 6. Thomas Waldrom (Jono Gibbes @55)7. Liam Messam; 8. Jake Paringatai. Tries: Ormsby (4), Jane (3), Messam (2), Lawrence (1), Paku (1), Noble (1)
Conversions: Berquist (7)
USA RUGBY: 15. Francois Viljoen (vice capt.) (Bardard @79); 14. Brian Barnard (Mike Palefau @48); 13. Salesi Sika; 12. Vahafalau Esikia; 11. Jeremy Nash; 10. Jason Kelly (Alipate Tuilevuka @57); 9. Mose Timoteo (Tyson Meek @48); 1. Mike
French (Chris Osentowski @61); 2. Patrick Bell (Owen Lentz @48); 3. John Tarpoff; 4. Carl Hansen (Schoener @48); 5. Mike Mangan (Clever @64); 6. Todd Clever (Mark Aylor @57); 7. Tony Petruzzella; 8. Kort Schubert (capt.)
Penalty Goals: Viljoen (2)