The USA Eagles have improved their RWCQ record to 2-2 with a nailbiting 28-24 win over Uruguay in San Francisco.
Los Teros from Uruguay put up a sterling performance and almost pulled off an upset victory at Balboa Stadium. The South Americans led 21-13 at the break, but the homeside kicked things up a notch in the second period to take the lead and then hold on to it in the dying stages of the game.
The Uruguayans crossed for two tries in the first forty minutes against one by Eagle hooker Kirk Khasigian. Los Teros also tallied three penalty goals to fullback Menchaca to extend their lead, but flyhalf Mike Hercus booted two penalties of his own to keep the USA in touch at halftime.
Uruguay had the wind and a glut of possession in the first stanza and clearly dominated the game. The USA looked good when they had the ball, but handling errors let them down.
In the second half two tries by US scrumhalf Kimball Kjar and Hercus pushed the Eagles in front and they were never headed, although Uruguay added another penalty and then drove to within a meter of the USA tryline as time wound down. American skipper Dave Hodges was yellow carded in the dying minutes, giving Uruguay a man advantage for the closing stages, but they couldn't convert that advantage to points.
Lock Alec Parker was one of the standouts for the Eagles, along with Kjar and Hercus.
It was a marked improvement for Uruguay following their heavy loss to Canada five days earlier, but the result dropped Los Teros to 0-3 in Americas zone qualifying. On the other hand, the victory lifted the Eagles into clear second place on the points table and gave the US a big leg up in the race for the number two seeding.
It also extended the Americans' lead over Uruguay to 5-0 all-time in head-to-head contests.