In what was expected to be a tight tournament semi-final match, USA controlled all facets of the game en route to a 23-3 drubbing of Great Britain. USA controlled possession, field position and forward pressure in the rucks and tackles for 80 minutes, and the British side was simply never in the game from the opening kickoff. USA will face long time Maccabiah finals nemesis South Africa in the gold medal match, while Israel and Great Britain will square off for the bronze.

USA mauled the opening kickoff into the attacking end and then kept possession for several rucks, finally drawing a penalty. Scrumhalf Greg vander Grift slotted the kick from a narrow angle (3-0) to give USA the lead it would never relinquish. USA continued maintaining possession with patience, slamming into rucks and wearing down the Brits. Finally, hooker Aaron Blatt took a pop pass through several defenders from 10 meters out to find paydirt. Van der Grift conversion (10-0). Great Britain found some momentum in the second part of the first half, almost scoring on a failed penalty kick with the bouncing ball hung up in the try zone, but winger Jon Sturman grabbed the high ball to secure possession. Great Britain then followed up with a penalty kick from 40 meters (10-3), but the USA ended the half with a flurry rucks and phases that went through all USA hands and ended with flyhalf Jeremy Nash scampering into the try zone untouched. It was easily the most beautiful try of the tournament so far. Van der Grift conversion (17-3).

In the second half, USA could only muster two Van der Grift penalty kicks, despite maintaining possession in the attacking end for the entire second half. Britain never came close to breaking USA’s defensive wall, and resorted to kicking high balls and squibbers which were never effective. USA fullback Micah Mills lit up the crowd with several electrifying runs off counterattacks and phase play, and Aaron Blatt had a run in the midfield where he simply crushed a hapless defender, prompting the crowd to go berserk. The score ended at full time 23-3.

Van der Grift earned Man of the Match honors for his pinpoint goal kicking and leading a backline that significantly reduced its knock-on count from previous games. In other news, Van der Grift got engaged on Saturday, proposing to Julie at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The game had the feel of a European soccer match, as the boisterous GB fans blew air horns, chanted “God Save the Queen” and sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” But the USA fans were equal to the task with their vocal support as well.

1. K. Schulman (D. Gertzakov) 2. A. Blatt (D. Glattstein) 3. R. Perle 4. J. Kaplan 5. A. Davis 6. B. Brown (D. Pitzele) 7. A. Ellison 8. G. Dotan (J. Bakst) 9. G. Van der Giff (M. Fair) 10. J. Nash 11. B. Burns (A. Manheimer) 12. A. Mayer 13. A. Lebowitz 14. J. Sturman (D. Ostriker) 15. M. Mills