Massacre.

As it was, it will be remembered as the March Mishap. Or, perhaps, the Disaster in Devonshire.

The biggest rugby game ever to be played in Bermuda quickly took on the eerie grandeur of the sky -- a menacing leaden grey -- matching perfectly the tone of play on the field as the United States Eagles manhandled the Bermuda national squad 60-3 in a World Cup qualifier at National Sports Club on a crisp and cool Saturday afternoon.

Bermuda got the cold, hard shoulders of the Eagles, and the big arms and the feet and everything else associated with a drubbing. It was the kind of loss that started early and seemed never to end.

In short, Bermuda players got their bells rung.

Despite the score, however, Bermuda -- often resembling a foal trying to walk on rickety legs -- accrued much praise from the lively crowd. Their never-say-die and courageous play earned them the admiration of the 1,500-plus fans in attendance.

"It's just a shame that we lost by the score we did because I think we do feel proud of the way we played,'' said an emotional number eight Richard Raistrick following the game. "I'm very proud of the way the forwards played and I'm very proud of the way the backs tackled.

"They (Eagles) did exactly what we expected them to do, which was come at us like a steam train. We tried to deal with them all afternoon and it's almost unbelievable they got 60 points.

"There's a lot of upset in there now,'' he added, gesturing towards the changing room, while clutching a swollen left hand with two ice cubes. His hand was stepped on during the game.

"Keiron (coach Peacock) just said we should be proud of what we managed to do today. All the best to them (Eagles) in Argentina. It just didn't quite come off. Maybe the occasion just got the better of us sometimes.'' The Eagles will now play Argentina in a home-and-away series to determine which country goes to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa.

The victory was the first for the US since June, 1992 and bettered their largest margin of victory when they defeated Uruguay 60-6 in 1989.

It was also also the first victory under new head coach Jack Clark.

Things began to go wrong almost immediately for Bermuda when lock Danny Cozens injured his leg a few minutes into the game. Cozens, showing the grit and determination, which typified Bermuda's game, refused to leave the pitch.

With the match less than three minutes old, number eight Rob Lumkong -- playing his first international for the Eagles -- barrelled over the try line to put the US in front 5-0. Before the half was over the Eagles would get two other tries, from left wing Rich Schurfeld and outside centre Ed Schram, Jr., who was a last-minute replacement for Mark Williams, unable to play because of pulled thigh muscle.

Phil Heaney finally put Bermuda on the scoreboard -- not even that was working -- 20 minutes into the half when his second penalty attempt sailed low and barely made it through the uprights. The crowd roared with approval but the US quickly made the score 15-3 and the rout was on.

The Eagles held a 22-3 advantage at the interval, but by no means were in complete command -- yet.

They then exploded for six tries -- and 38 unanswered points -- in the second half, where their intentions seemed like a belligerent bouncer at the front door of a rowdy disco.

Scoring tries for the Eagles were inside centre Mark Scharrenberg, open flanker Richard Tardits, tight flanker Chris Campbell, half-back Andre Bachalet and two from outside half Chris O'Brien.

Veteran O'Brien, connecting on six of nine conversions and one of three penalties, accounted for 25 points, solidifying his place at the top of the all-time Eagle scorers with 144 points. He was one point shy of equalling the record he holds for scoring 26 points in the Uruguayan game.

Except for Schurfeld, who scored his third career try, the game marked the first time the others had scored during international play.

"We made things happen,'' said O'Brien, who also stood out because of his red hair and freckles. "My second try I saw the ball bounce to Gary (right wing Hein) and he heard me coming around him and he tossed it to me. The other one was a ball off the weak side of a ruck and I was hollering to Andre (Bachalet) because there was no one near the try line. But all of a sudden there were two Bermuda players, so I was lucky I scored.'' The Eagles, far from being backyard bullies, were, in fact, gracious visitors, but one incident during the first half created the game's only free-for-all.

Bermuda vice-captain Sean Field pushed Campbell near the sidelines resulting in some pushing and shoving near the grandstand.

EAGLE COLLARED -- Bermuda's Scott Correia, right, grabs Rob Lumkong's jersey while trying to tackle him as team-mates Billy McNiven, Danny Cozens, Patrick Cooper and David Cooke get ready to lend a hand.