The encouraging signs displayed yesterday in a narrow defeat to England in the opening game of round six of the series, quickly evaporated against the fast-improving Americans when Madison Hughes strolled over to score despite his side being a man down after Carlin Isles was sent to the sin bin for pulling back Tomos Williams.
Zack Test and Hughes put USA firmly in control by scoring further tries with Wales unable to get their hands on the ball. Captain Jevon Groves gave his side a glimmer of hope by galloping over just before the halftime hooter.
Rhodri Williams scooted over early in the second half after Adam Warren’s flick pass gave him the gap on the outside but that was as close as it got for Wales with Perry Baker racing over and Test scoring twice to complete his hat-trick.
Wales began their final pool match against Kenya still without Dan Fish who was sitting out the game after being banned for two matches after being adjudged to have upended a ball carrier in yesterday’s defeat to England.
Luke Morgan, who scored a brace against England, raced over early but a converted try to Daniel Sikuta gave Kenya a 7-5 lead at the break.
A try by Felix Ayange Otiende put Kenya further in front but Wales finished strongly with Morgan and Tom Williams crossing to ensure a 19-12 victory for the men in red.
Wales finished third in their pool behind England and USA and will now play Belgium in the Bowl quarter-final hoping to finish the tournament on a high note to build confidence for round seven next week in Japan.
“To lose the way we did against USA was highly frustrating and disappointing,” said Wales head coach Gareth Williams.
“We didn’t keep the ball alive as well as we had aimed to do. There was a key moment at 21-12 down with our decision making very poor. We are disappointed as we did not deliver on things we have shown are effective and what we did in the first game. Tomorrow is another day where we hope to right a few wrongs.”
