(San Diego, California) – Andrew ‘Tui’ Osborne’s 15th-minute breakaway triggered a three-try outburst that spurred the Falcons to a 48-17 North American 4 win over their domestic rivals.
Despite conceding four touchdowns in the opening stanza, the Hawks pulled to within 29-17 following Dom Mara’s 51st-minute intercept try. But the first of Takudzwa Ngwenya’s pair of fourth-quarter scores settled an eight tries-to-one contest generally lacking continuity and suspense.
In Vancouver, Canada West downed the Easts 26-24, meaning the Falcons sit atop the standings with five points, while the Hawks are in fourth after the opening round.
Particularly with nearly a dozen 2006 internationals held out, the San Diego match seemed more of a ‘possibles’ trial than ‘cross border’ fixture. Along with myriad halftime substitutions, Mara's intercept, right on the heels of an intercept score by Falcons replacement flanker Mark Aylor, underlined its disjointed nature.
The Hawks had jumped to a 6-0 lead before spilling a ball in the backline, for defender Chris Wylie to put the fleet, elusive Osborne away for a 70-yard counterattack which set the day's tone. Then followed tries by Chad Erskine, following a long break by the superb Phil Eloff, and Eloff himself after a simple scissors move with Erskine, shifted out to flyhalf for the day.
Following Dave Williams’ third penalty goal of the half, lock Mike Mangan crossed the line after ranging downfield in support of 7s Eagle Mike Palefau.
Mara booted a second-half penalty goal at 45 minutes, before Aylor and Mara traded intercept scores. The athletic Ngwenya and replacement Alipate Tuilevuka then closed out the scoring.
The NA4 resumes in May in Palo Alto, with the Americans taking on their Canadian counterparts.
Separately, the USA Under 19s upset Romania 16-10 at the age grade's world championship in Belfast, Ireland. Two second-half penalty goals from Texas A&M flyhalf Hamish Roberts proved the difference in a two tries-to-two match. The 2-0 Americans are in 4th place of the 12-team second division, and face 1-1 Zimbabwe on Thursday the 12th.
San Diego State (Southern California), Utah and St. Mary’s (Pacific Coast), and New Mexico and Wyoming (West) qualified for the collegiate championships, which kick off on April 20.
Falcons 48 Hawks 17 (halftime: Falcons 22-9)
Falcons
Tries: Takudzwa Ngwenya (2), Andrew Osborne, Chad Erskine, Phil Eloff, Mike Mangan, Mark Aylor, Alipate Tuilevuka
Conversions: Chad Erskine (4)
Andrew Osborne; Mike Palefau (Alipate Tuilevuka), Phil Eloff (Takudzwa Ngwenya), Vaha Esikia, Chris Wyles; Chad Erskine, Mose Timoteo (Kimball Kjar); Chris Moreno, Blake Burdette (Owen Lentz), Aaron Beuhring, Adam Casias (Latu Puloka), Mike Mangan, Danny LaPrevotte (Mark Aylor), Rikus Pretorius (Danny LaPrevotte), Travis Meidinger (Fifita Mo’unga)
Hawks
Tries: Dom Mara
Conversion: Dave Williams
Penalties: Dave Williams (3), Dom Mara
Dom Mara; Brian Barnard (Jone Naqica), Nathan Rogers, Albert Tuipolutu (Riaan Hamilton), Scott Jones; Andrew Locke; Dave Williams (Doug Rowe); Mike French, Mark Crick (Patrick Bell), Mate Maeakiola, Jon van der Giessen, Alec Parker (Jake Stanfill), Inaki Bausari, MC Laubscher (Jason Lett), Dan Payne (Andrew Ryland)
Referee: not available
Attendance: 300 (estimated)
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