Flyhalf Ian Madigan converted five penalties to lead Ireland to a 15-12 victory over a determined United States in the first of two North American Tests for the Irish.
Flyhalf Ian Madigan, pictured playing for his club Leinster last month, converted five penalties to lead Ireland to a 15-12 victory over a determined United States in the first of two North American Tests for the Irish
The United States, ranked 16th in the world, kept it impressively close against ninth-ranked Ireland in the match at BBVA Compass Arena, home of Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo.
The clash drew a crowd of 20,181, a record for a rugby match in the United States.
Interim head coach Les Kiss was in charge of Ireland for the first time and had to make do without those players currently touring Australia with the British and Irish Lions.
Even so, Ireland notched their first victory since they defeated eventual champions Wales 30-22 in a Six Nations clash in Cardiff in February.
Full-back Chris Wyles converted four penalties for the hosts, who suffered their second defeat in two weeks after opening their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a loss to Canada in Edmonton on May 25.
"We're disappointed," US coach Mike Tolkin said. "It was right within winning distance."
Ireland took the lead early when Madigan slotted a penalty in the ninth minute after the USA's scrum collapsed.
The Eagles' Brian Doyle needed some tending after a ruck in the 13th minute, but Samu Manoa took revenge and got the crowd on its feet when he lined up an Ireland ball-carrier with a huge hit one minute later.
The physicality of the Eagles turned into penalty trouble once again in the 18th minute with hands in the ruck, and Madigan took full advantage with another penalty to give Ireland a 6-0 lead.
"Early on we got into some penalty trouble," Tolkin said. "Obviously, a couple we'll take responsibility for."
Although the Eagles couldn't find the try zone, sustained pressure on a tiring Irish defence drew a penalty, which Wyles converted to trim the deficit to 6-3.
Madigan's third penalty of the night in the 31st minute again stretched the visitors' lead, and also sprung Manoa into action. The Northampton Saint used his big frame and speed to get through a few tackles at midfield to get the Eagles into attacking territory and drew another penalty.
Wyles kicked for points and the Eagles found themselves again down by three.
Ireland's chances were few, but a kick across the field in the 35th minute stretched the Eagles defense.
Takudzwa Ngwenya stepped up to take away the scoring chance and forced Ireland to knock on. The Eagles committed one last penalty before the halftime whistle and paid the price, as Madigan kicked his fourth penalty of the half for a 12-6 lead at the break.
Things got worse for the hosts in the second half when captain Todd Clever was judged to have made a high tackle and sent to the sin bin.
Madigan duly stepped up to kick the penalty and extend Ireland's lead to 15-6.
Consecutive penalties from Wyles pulled the USA back to 15-12, but even with Clever back in action they couldn't get any closer.
Despite the disappointment, the United States can be encouraged by the result as they prepare to host Tonga on Saturday in the Pacific Nations Cup in Los Angeles.
On the same day, Ireland will play a Test against Canada in Toronto.