A Parc Eirias crowd of just under 3,000 watched two high scoring games on Friday night in the IRB International Series
A Parc Eirias crowd of just under 3,000 watched 2 high scoring games on Friday night in the IRB International Series with Samoa warming up for their clash with Wales next week beating Canada 42-12.
The first of the double headers was the clash between USA and Russia and Kingsley Jones’s Russia opened up the points scoring with an early penalty from Igor Klyuchnikov which sailed over from near the touchline. The play in the opening minutes was dominated from the Russians.
USA started to get more of the ball and it was clear that the backline wanted to use their pace at every opportunity. The Eirias crowd were soon on their feet as the USA’s Paul Emerick picked the ball up in his own half then evaded a few loose tackles as he ran past the halfway line sprinting down the pitch and as he was finally caught nearing the line his offload was knocked on to the disappointment of the North Wales crowd.
The try came soon after with the USA pack driving over the line and Eric Fry appeared with the ball at the bottom of a pile of bodies. The try was converted by Paul Emerick.
Russia were given another penalty after USA were given offside and it was put over by Klyuchnikov to bring the score back to 6-7.
USA were looking powerful in the pack and dangerous in the backline with a number of breaks through the Russian defence. The territory was also in the Americans favour with a couple of huge touch finder kicks to push the Russians back.
The second try off the match went to USA with great work from the USA scrum half spotting some space and making a darting run and as he was tackled a quick offload to fly half Toby L’Estrange gave him the chance to sprint over the line. With the conversion by Chris Wylde USA led 14-9.
Russia won another penalty and it was converted by Klyuchnikov which meant although Russia weren’t getting much possession every time the ball was in the USA territory the picked up points.
USA had a few breaks and the space was opening up for the backline, but again the work from the pack led to another try after a huge drive Eric Fry broke away and ran over unchallenged for his second try of the night. Fry conversion made it 21-9 to USA at halftime.
The second half started with more pressure from the USA and a try in the corner from Chris Wylde seemed to take the Russian defence by surprise, they try scorer also converted for a 28-9 lead. Another try in the same corner happened soon after but this time it was more power with the pack driving over for the 5 points.
The Eirias crowd were backing the Russians in the second half willing them on for a try. When USA had a player yellow carded Russia got the try with a superb backline move with 3 quick passes to give Vladislav Korshunov a chance to dive over in the corner to huge cheers from the stands.
As the USA had a decent lead you could see the confidence in their play as they went through the phases and recycled the ball to move into good positions and the patience was rewarded when Robbie Shaw ran under the posts for the try.
Russia showed they were still in the game when they were awarded a try from a drive from the pack and they scored another well worked try after a superb improvised pass by Korshunov to Andrey Temnov to cross in the corner.
Russian winger Korshunov was causing the USA a number of problems as he continued to run through the defence with pace and power and every time he picked up the ball the Eirias crowd got behind him. Russia were growing in confidence and they were asking questions of the USA defence in the last 10 minutes though USA had done enough to claim the 40-26 win.
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