Eagles swoop past Georgia

Roland Suniula and Taylor Mokate both scored tries to help the USA Eagles beat Georgia 36-20 on Saturday.

Mike Petri and James Paterson also scored tries for the United States, coming off a 28-25 loss to Canada.

The Americans dominated at the high-altitude venue in the hotbed of US rugby after inserting Mokate at number six and Suniula at fly-half, where he played for the Eagles at the 2011 World Cup.

Suniula, born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, gave the Americans an 8-0 lead with his try and produced a line break to set up Petri's try on the way to a 28-8 half-time lead.

Mokate scored his try in the first half and Paterson added his to produce the final points of the game after two Georgia tries pulled the visitors, who never led, back to 31-20.

The Americans will entertain Italy next Saturday at Houston, Texas, while Georgia play Canada next weekend.

USA:  15 Chris Wyles, 14 Luke Hume, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 James Paterson, 10 Roland Suniula, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Todd Clever (c), 7 Scott Lavalla, 6 Taylor Mokate, 5 Brian Doyle, 4 Louis Stanfill, 3 Eric Fry, 2 Chris Biller, 1 Shawn Pittman.
Replacements:  16 Derek Asbun, 17 Tolifili (Andre) Liufau, 18 Mike MacDonald, 19 Andrew Durutalo, 20 Shaun Davies, 21 Will Holder, 22 Colin Hawley.

Georgia:  15 Lasha Khmaladze, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 Davit Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Merab Kvirikashvili, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (c), 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 7 Givi Berishvili, 6 Gregori Labadze, 5 Vakhtang Maisuradze, 4 Beka Bitsadze, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Revaz Belkania, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Replacements:  16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Irakli Mirtskhulava, 18 Zviad Maisuradze, 19 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 20 Giorgi Begadze, 21 Lasha Malaguradze, 22 Irakli Kiasashvili.