Maccabiah Team Loses To Australia, Will Face Great Britain For Bronze

With their 18-10 loss to Australia in the semi-finals, the U.S. Maccabiah team will now find itself in the bronze medal match against Great Britain. Australia will advance to the gold medal match against Israel who beat Great Britain 25-6.

The U.S. got off to a bright start when Kevin Swiryn scored his second try in as many games in the 7th minute. Taylor Howden from the Denver Barbarians then stepped up to hit the conversion and put the U.S. up 7-0. The U.S. would maintain the lead despite Australia scoring a try only a few minutes later but weren't able to convert. Howden would extend the U.S. lead to 10-5 in the 33rd minute with a penalty.

But Australia were too tough on the day. They picked up their second try two minutes after Howden's penalty to level the score. In the second half they would further extend their lead to 13-10 when Dean Friedlander hit a penalty for Australia. With the U.S. pushing in the second half Australia scored a late try to put the final score at 18-10.
The U.S. will now face Great Britain, who theylost to in the pool stage of the 15's tournament 19-10.