USA Rugby photo
The USA Falcons went 2-1 during pool play at the Okinawa 7s, defeating host Japan and Fiji, and falling a try short of Russia. The representative side will now face Australia in today’s quarterfinals at 8:14 p.m. Eastern. Watch the livestream here.
USA 26-24 JAPAN
Tries: Persinger, Olsen, Kosko, Smith
Cons: Byrge, Olsen 2
Japan opened up the scoring after returning a penalty kick that didn’t go to touch, and then looked to build another attack after a slick ballcarrier slipped past Neariah Persinger. But the Oklahoman hustled in the chase and was well positioned for an intercept that she returned for a try, converted by Ashlee Byrge, 7-all.
Japan worked a big overload for the go-ahead try, and then the Americans answered just before the halftime whistle. Chelsey Birgisdóttir did a good job of moving the ball away from the ruck and Kelsi Stockert got the team moving forward with a galloping run. Alena Olsen then worked the dummy switch with Persinger for her converted try, 14-12.
The Falcons extended its lead to 19-12 after Persinger broke down the sideline and drew a penalty. Kate Zackary went quickly and then Natalie Kosko picked from the base for the dive-over try, 19-12. Turnovers in the ruck and tackle, as well as Japan’s footwork and confidence in the two-on-one, saw the home side dot down back-to-back tries.
As the buzzer sounded, Japan led 24-19, but there was enough time for a restart. There was a collective gasp as Birgisdóttir just reined in a potential knock-on, but she recovered well to continue the attack from the USA’s end. Zackary found Sarah Buonopane on the sideline for a big break, and then the ball moved back in to Hope Rogers for some stomping meters forward. Dani McDonald offloaded to Birgisdóttir out of the tackle, and the prop did an excellent job of committing the try-line defense before spinning wide to Kelli Smith all alone. The rookie scored the tying points and Olsen kicked the winner, 26-24.
USA 31-0 FIJI
Tries: Kosko 3, Smith, Zackary
Cons: Byrge 2, Olsen
Kosko scored the first of her three tries against Fiji early on, taking a lost ball in the tackle for a 50-meter score. During the subsequent attacking campaign, Persinger made ground through the middle before going down with an injury near Fiji’s 22 meter. She came off the pitch and Zackary restarted play tapping through a penalty. The former collegiate soccer player grubbed through the line and Kosko dotted down in the try zone. Byrge converted for the 12-0 lead.
Rogers was then yellow carded and Fiji made use of the extra room for a break around the corner. Birgisdóttir made a diving pursuit tackle and Byrge was there to punish Fiji’s slow support. The turnover moved to Stockert for a break into Fiji’s end, and Byrge’s floating pass put Kosko away for the try, converted by Bryge, 19-0 halftime.
After the break, the Falcons bundled Fiji into to touch and then built some phases off a solid lineout. The ball eventually moved wide to Smith for her second try of the tournament, 24-0.
Fiji had its best scoring opportunity after some messy, bobbling ball in the USA’s 22 meter created the environment in which Fiji typically thrives. Instead, the Falcons were able to get to mid-field and Kosko did a great job of working the defense out wide before hitting Zackary, who fended her way to the try zone. Olsen converted for the 31-0 win.
RUSSIA 19-14 USA
Tries: Birgisdóttir, Buonopane
Cons: Olsen 2
The Falcons looked sharp from the kickoff and got into scoring position quickly. Russia overthrew its 5m lineout, right into Kosko hands, and the ball just knocked forward as she lunged over the line. Russia got the 5m scrum and responded nicely to the pressure, moving play back to its 22 meter. Russia then capitalized on a speed mismatch for the converted try, 7-0.
Back-to-back penalties allowed the Falcons to build some momentum, but an errant lineout handed Russia possession in the Americans’ end. After a few phases, the defense collapsed on the ballcarrier, who got the pass away for a converted try, 14-0 into the break.
Early in the second half, Russia wanted to use its scrum to build an attack that got it out of the USA’s half, but the scrumhalf peeled to weak side without support, and Byrge and Birgisdóttir were there to push her into touch and draw a penalty. The Falcons later drew an offsides penalty in a scrum, got some good phases to the opposite sideline and back, and put Olsen away for the try and conversion, 14-7.
A not-releasing penalty helped Russia dot down the winning points, 19-7, but the Falcons once again scored after the full-time whistle sounded. After a big Stockert run, the ball worked to McDonald, who hit Buonopane with a flat pass and 50-meter try, converted by Olsen, 19-14.
If the players wear the same jersey numbers as day one, then viewers can identify them as such:
1. Hope Rogers
2. Kate Zackary
4. Chelsey Birgisdottir
5. Alena Olsen
6. Natalie Kosko
7. Ashlee Byrge
8. Dani McDonald
9. Kelsi Stockert
10. Sarah Buonopane
11. Kelli Smith
12. Neariah Persinger
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