Kelsi Stockert with Sam Pankey in support /// Mike Lee – KCL fotos for World Rugby
Canada took the bronze medal at the Vegas 7s, defeating the USA Women’s 7s team 31-7 inside Sam Boyd Stadium. The Eagles finished 3-3 on the tournament, gained 14 points in the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series standings and are tied with Russia for fifth overall.
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“We actually came into this game with very few expectations,” said USA’s Sam Pankey. “We had a couple of injuries so we were coming into the game with a lineup that has never played together before. Couple new caps this tournament and a couple of us got the start that last game. The main expectation was to come in and play the USA’s style of game, which is to be physical and to bring it. Other than that we wanted to play rugby and put on a good show for our fans.”
But it was Canada that dominated the conversation, scoring three tries in the first half and another two in the second half. Brittany Benn served as an emblem of Canada’s aggressive game. She took on the USA’s hard-charging runners head-on and chased down breakaways. She did her job on the wing and scored off a nice skip pass that just went over Nicole Snyder’s fingertips. She had an overall good game and got the all-tournament team nod (as did Alev Kelter and Naya Tapper).
“We got bunched a lot on defense and they were able to exploit gaps when we were trying to chase,” Pankey spoke to the lessons that the loss afforded. “Offensively we didn’t have the ball much. In Sydney, we maintained the ball quite a bit, and here we didn’t. So consistency is a big takeaway. As far as the game before that – the New Zealand game – we laid it out there on the line and the biggest takeaway is that we can’t stop. We always have to find a second wind and sometimes a third wind.”
The USA scored its try in the first half, as Kristen Thomas hit the loosely guarded side of the ruck for a long-range try that Alev Kelter converted. But Canada was able to score before the break to win back momentum.
“That definitely could have been a factor,” Pankey spoke to the effect of the Cup semifinal loss. “When you have that much of a buildup in front of all of your fans, and you come away against one of the best teams in the world with a close, one-score loss, that takes it out of you a little bit. I don’t doubt that that was a factor – but it wasn’t the main factor. Longevity over the weekend was kind of a factor; we were just kinda beat up.”
Although it wasn’t the finish for which the USA was looking, the experience is memorable. 2017 marked the first time that the entire women’s tournament was played inside Sam Boyd Stadium. In previous years, the LVI has featured an international division to which the Eagles would send team and/or representative sides.
“This is the biggest crowd I’ve ever played at that was rooting for me,” Pankey said. “I’ve played in crowds like this for 15s – in France, England, big rugby countries – but this is nothing like anything I’ve ever experienced.”
In the final, New Zealand overwhelmed Australia 28-5 for the title and leads the standings with 56 points. New Zealand has won two of the three series titles this season. The fourth leg will occur April 22-23 in Japan for the Kitakyushu 7s. The USA is also sending a Falcons side to the Vancouver 7s next weekend.
Canada 31
Tries: Landry 2, Darling, Benn, Watcham-Roy
Cons: Landry 3
USA 7
Tries: Thomas
Cons: Kelter