The USA dominated a hard-nosed Romanian team Saturday in Bucharest, defeating the Oaks 31-5 and regaining the Pershing Cup as the Eagles made it ninth straight test-match victories in a row.

The Eagles actually had several chances to put this game away before halftime, but a little bad luck and some poor decisions made it a close game, 12-5, at the break. But a torrid opening series in the second half gave the USA a cushion, and a long defensive stand stymied any thoughts of a Romanian comeback.

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Once again the USA used center Paul Lasike and hooker Joe Taufete'e as main runners. Romania was ready for it and to a certain extent limited those players' attacking influence. But not entirely. It was a break from Lasike through an inside gap that set up scrumhalf Ruben de Haas to dummy and stretch over for a try at 11 minutes.

Romania replied, exploiting a USA penalty at midfield to launch an attack that saw Cătălin Fercu cut through and feed fullback Ionel Melinte for the game-tying try.

The Eagles then re-took the lead after a long attack game them a scrum six meters from the Romanian line. Lasike once again was involved, this time drawing enough Romanian attention to dish to his center partner Bryce Campbell. The former Indiana All American was hauled down just short of the line but was able to each over to touch the ball down.

Will Magie converted and the Eagles led 12-5.

After that, the first half was a series of missed opportunities. The Eagles had several penalties inside the Romanian 22 but opted for scrums rather than kicks at goal. A wide kick from Magie to Blaine Scully resulted in Scully being hit while still in the air. Scully argued for a penalty try, but referee Christopher Ridley rightly just gave a penalty.

Scully had a clearer try called back later in the half. John Quill ripped the ball free in a tackle, and de Haas sped off before feeding his captain to run free into the corner. But further examination showed that Quill had ripped the ball out illegally, and the try was called back.

On that play, however, Romania center Tangimana Fonovai was yellow-carded for a dangerous fend. Up a player for the final minutes of the first half, the Eagles still failed to score. They passed up a very kickable penalty to go for a try, and ended the half held up in-goal.

The score remained 12-5 when the second half began, but the USA rid itself of the habit of giving up soft tries in the second half. Instead, the Eagles put the pressure on from the start, and a well-placed box kick from de Haas resulted in wing Ryan Matyas slicing through for a try and a 19-5 lead.

Midway through the second half, Campbell got his second after a long period of punishing USA attacks opened up some space for Hanco Germishuys, and the flanker linked with Campbell for the center's second.

That made it 24-5. After that, Romania, camped out in the USA half for the next 15 minutes or so. The TMO brought back one Oaks try due to a player being offside, but Romania had several other opportunities. The Oaks, too, opted for scrums and lineouts rather than kicks at goal, and small mistakes, plus a massive tackle by Marcel Brache and Campbell at the tryline, prevented any more scoring.

With time almost up, Magie lofted a wide kick for Maupin, who caught it easily and scored to finish it up 31-5. The game was remarkable in part because neither team attempted a penalty kick at goal.

The game was marked by some notable injuries. Will Hooley, the hero of last week's win over Samoa, was a late scratch, with Magie taking his place at fyhalf. Maupin, who came on as a sub, was a late addition to the gameday 23.

Matyas injured himself in scoring his try, and was replaced by Gannon Moore. Tony Lamborn had a very worrying leg injury that forced him off in the second half.

Several players put in impressive performances, with Cam Dolan hugely influential in stealing lineouts and working in tight. Locks Nick Civetta and Greg Peterson were very solid, and Lasike continues to make plays. 

The Eagles regain the Pershing Cup, named after former USA Army General John J. Pershing, who is also a hero to the Romanian people and who enable the USA to play Romania in a rugby game in 1919. Now the USA team looks ahead to Ireland on November 24.

USA 31
Tries: Campbell 2, de Haas, Matyas, Maupin
Convs: Magie 3

Romania 5
Tries: Melinte

USA Lineup: 1. Titi Lamositele; 2. Joe Taufete'e; 3. Paul Mullen; 4. Greg Peterson; 5. Nick CIvetta; 6. John Quill; 7. Tony Lamborn; 8. Cam Dolan; 9. Ruben de Haas; 10. Will Magie; 11. Ryan Matyas; 12. Paul Lasike; 13. Bryce Campbell; 14. Blaine Scully (C); 15. Marcel Brache

Reserves: 16. Dylan Fawsitt (on for Taufete'e), 17. David Ainuu (on for Lamositele); 18. Dino Waldren (on for Mullen); 19. David Tameilau (on for Peterson); 20. HancoGermishuys (on for Lamborn); 21. Nick Boyer (on for de Haas); 22. Gannon Moore (on for Matyas); 23. Tim Maupin (on for Campbell)

Romannia Lineup: 1. Ionel Badiu; 2. Andrei Rădoi; 3. Alexandru Gordaș; 4. Adrian Moțoc (C); 5. Marian Drenceanu; 6. Adrian Ion; 7. Johan Van Heerden; 8. Cristi Chirica; 9. Florin Surugiu; 10. Daniel Plai; 11. Ionuț Dumitru; 12. Tangimana Fonovai; 13. Cătălin Fercu; 14. Vlăduț Zaharia; 15. Ionel Melinte

Reserves: 16. Alexandru Savin (on for Rădoi), 17. Eugen Căpățână (on for Badiu), 18. Constantin Pristăviță (on for Gordaș), 19. Marius Iftimiciuc (on for Drenceanu), 20. Răzvan Ilișescu (on for Van Heerden), 21. Valentin Calafeteanu (on for Surugiu), 22. Tudor Boldor (on for Zaharia), 23. Vlăduț Popa (on for Dumitru)