USA Rugby South soundly defeated Bermuda in the Rugby Americas North U19 semifinals Tuesday. The Panthers slammed Bermuda 54-0, working some pretty nifty ball-handling and solid forward effort in loose play, despite the rain in Mirimar, Florida.

Center Marcelo Gutierrez had a strong game and was rewarded with the final try of the day. But it was his running early and some nice interplay between the midfielders and support runners that made the attack work.

The South's first try came off a loose ball from a lineout. The South forwards pounced on the Bermudans as they tried to figure out what to do, and then from a penalty the Panthers quick-tapped and flanker Justin Johnson could not be stopped from short range.

Another iffy lineout led to a later try as the South finally managed to retain possession and send the ball through the hands for fullback Nikolas Koumandarakis to blaze through for the try. Then the South made it 21-0 after a nicely-taken lineout started a maul, and prop Muhammad Abdullah just powered right through the middle.

Set piece time was imperfect for the South, but downright trouble for Bermuda, and uncontrolled possession out the back of a scrum quickly became a turnover for the Panthers in the 22nd minute. Flyhalf and captain Shea O'Hanlon cut through and the offloaded impressively to newly-minted high school all-American Cameron Tompkins. The flanker did the rest.

The South capped off a dominant first half with good ball off a lineout and some brilliant ballhandling. Lock Campbell Robinson fed Koumandarakis for the Furman fullback's second. O'Hanlon had several difficult shots at goal, but didn't miss a conversion in the first half, slotting that last one to make it 35-0.

Play was slower in the second half as the rain got heavier, but the South extended their lead when a run from Gutierrez set up Oliver Kennett for a try in the corner. Finally O'Hanlon missed a conversion attempt, but he was good on Zach Rademacher's try as the Harpeth (Tennessee) center cut back against the grain. Gutierrez did the same and then galloped in from about 25 meters.

It was some powerful stuff, and all the more impressive given that the South team was short a player on the bench, with some athletes resting as well.

Jamaica defeated Cayman Islands 20-3 in Tuesday's consolation semi. On Wednesday Mexico faces Trinidad & Tobago for a chance to meet USA South in the final. USA South Team 2 plays Turks & Caicos in the remaining consolation semi.

USA South Lineup v Bermuda

1. Muhammad Abdullah
2. George Sharpe
3. Mark Spicer
4. Campbell Robinson
5. Maxwell Dacey
6. Justin Johnson
7. Cameron Tompkins
8. Jack Freixa
9. Jaycob Forrester
10. Shea O'Hanlon (C)
11. Oliver Kennett
12. Marcelo Gutierrez
13. Zach Rademacher
14. Logan Butler
15. Nikolas Koumandarakis

Reserves
16. Joshua Zamudio
17. CameronTibbetts
18. Gabriel Kettering
19. Joshua Bryant
20. Calvin Gentry
21. Diego Haro
22. Malcom Easley

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