No luck for the Irish as USA wins again

Perfect conditions for the month of March was an unusual setting for the usual classic encounter offering a thoroughly entertaining game of Rugby league as the USA defeated Ireland 20 to 12 for Game V.

The Tomahawks fresh off a blitz tour to Australia used the experience learned from some tough encounters to find form against a strong and determined Ireland National team. Ireland struggled to get past their 30 yard line for the first 10 mins with swarming defense by the USA and the continual onslaught and stinging hits shocked the visiting team. Panic football lead to some quick offense for the USA and some clever ball work saw Captain Jeff Preston with room to move as he danced and weaved his way past several defenders to score out wide after 10 mins of play. The conversion was succesful.

The next few sets of play saw the USA again looking dangerous but some simple mistakes saw golden opportunites slip by as players dropped easy passes with no defenders in front.
A frustrated Ireland had much to be thankful for as the scoreline flattered the possession of football held by both teams. This quickly change as Referee Graham Desmond determined to stamp his authority on the game handed back to back penalties against the USA for high tackles that offers the Wolfhounds 2 penalty conversions that put the score at 6 - 4.

The Tomahawks still seething from the penalty count quickly saw the game change hands as Ireland concentrated on playing good football and scored outwide to go into the halftime break with the lead at 8 - 6.

Both teams came out firing in the second half and threw the ball around in an effort to make breaks from both packs of tiring forwards. The USA continued to be penalized for offsides and with stood a number of attacks on their line own. One highlight play saw USA winger Rich Portale intercept the ball and race 80 yards only to be chased down by Ireland just shy of the tryline forcing him to lose the ball. The Wolfhounds then throwing the ball quickly out wide raced from other side of the field almost scoring themselves if not for quick defense from the Tomahawks.

The USA continued to look dangerous with Mike Mulvihill finding space all over the park and repeat sets of play saw him pass a perfect ball to sub Martin O'Donoghue in open space and just yards from the tryline only to called back for a forward pass. Minutes later Ryan Blake broke free and again O'Donoghue was found again in support and soon under the posts to the delight of the crowd. Cheers turned to dismay as Ireland's number 4 punched the USA player as he grounded the ball and players from both sides ran in to get in on the action.

With the Ireland player sent from the field, a penalty try was awarded and the USA was back in front at 14 - 8. With 20 left the USA scored again and it seemed the game was all but locked up until 5 minutes later USA forward Greg Stelutti was sinbinned for foul play.

Captain Jeff Preston playing his best game in recent years also found himself marched from the field for fighting. With only 11 men on the field the Stars and Stripes knew it was going to be a long 10 minutes and did well to hold a barrage number of repeated attacks as the Wolfhounds threw everything at them. Eventually a number of penalties proved too much as Ireland scored with only a few minutes left but failed to make the conversion as they rushed the kick.

As the clock took forever to wind down, the 8 point difference was never going to reached and the USA celebrated their first victory since the Japan game last year.

Coach Bill Hansbury commented after the game, "We made some simple mistakes that could of put more points on the board and others the may have cost us the game but the boys defended brilliantly tonight". He also added "I think if we hadn't come off such a tough tour of Australia then the result may have gone a different outcome tonight. The boys have learned a great deal more in these past few weeks and it showed here tonight".

Stand out players for the USA were Mike Mulvihill, Jeff Preston, Ryan Blake, Ed Woodbridge and Dave DiValerio. For Ireland Lee Gallagher, Alan Robinson and Andy Wroe also did their country proud.

Photographs by Duane Plank, Glen Mills

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