Maori leave the US Eagles standing
New Zealanders notch up big win in Santa Clara
The New Zealand Maori underlined their Churchill Cup intentions by crushing the USA at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara on Wednesday evening, running in a dozen tries as they notched up a highly accomplish 74-6 victory over their hosts.
Chiefs lock Kristian Ormsby turned his fleet-footed team-mates green with envy as he ran in four tries and duly picked up the man-of-the-match award. The best the backline could muster was a hat-trick from NZ Sevens star Cory Jane.
Liam Messam claimed a brace whilst Zar Lawrence, Shannon Paku and Noble each added a try apiece; fly-half Matt Berquist converted seven of the 12 tries.
But it was the US Eagles who took the lead with a Francois Viljoen penalty in the fifth minute of the game.
The momentum then swung violently towards the New Zealanders as the Maori set about showing the assemble crowd of 3,562 just what a set of fully professional players is able to conjure up.
The Maori will play Ireland 'A' on Saturday with the winner guaranteed a date with Scotland 'A' in the final.
The Scots secured a place in the last two with a 15-10 over host Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday, having already accounted for the England Saxons.
The scorers:
For the NZ Maori:
Tries: Ormsby 4, Jane 3, Messam 2, Lawrence, Paku, Noble
Cons: Berquist 7
For the USA:
Pens: Viljoen 2
The teams:
USA: 15 Francois Viljoen, 14 Brian Barnard, 13 Salesi Sika, 12 Vaha Esikia, 11 Jeremy Nash, 10 Jason Kelly, 9 Mose Timotea, 1 Mike French, 2 Patrick Bell, 3 John Tarpoff, 4 Carl Hansen, 5 Mike Mangan, 6 Todd Clever, 7 Tony Petruzella, 8 Kort Schubert (captain).
Replacements: 16 Owen Lentz, 17 Chris Osentowski, 18 Brian Schoener, 19 Mark Aylor, 20 Tyson Meek, 21 Mike Palefau, 22 Alipate Tuilevuka.
NZ Maori: 15 Shannon Paku, 14 Zar Lawrence, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Pehi Te Whare, 11 Cory Jane, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Jake Paringatai, 7 Liam Messam, 6 Thomas Waldrom, 5 Paul Tito (captain), 4 Kristian Ormsby, 3 Mike Noble, 2 Luke Mahoney, 1 Greg Feek.
Replacements: 16 Scott Linklater, 17 Deacon Manu, 18 Ross Filipo, 19 Jono Gibbes, 20 Corey Tamou, 21 Callum Bruce, 22 Anthony Tahana.
Referee: Peter Allen (Scotland)
Touch judges: Phil Smith (Canada), Andrew Small (England)