Alev Kelter scoring one of three Falcons tries in game two. / Photo: Paul Rudman/KLC fotos
The USA Falcons and Aussie Pearls split the first two contests of a five-game series. The visitors won the opener 29-10 at the Silver Bowl fields, wedged into the Las Vegas Invitational, and the home side won the rematch inside Sam Boyd Stadium, 26-12. Games three and four will be contested at Silver Bowl Saturday, and the fifth on Sunday inside Sam Boyd.
Although both teams are operating under their developmental, non-test team names, the Australian and USA brought sides very close to their top lineups. And this morning’s outing saw familiar entities like Charlotte Caslick (2), Alicia Quirk and Shannon Parry – all gold medal Olympians – all score tries, in addition to young standout Dominique Du Toit. Cassie Staples also kicked two conversions.
Naya Tapper and Hope Rogers accounted for the Falcons’ tries, but the game was dictated by the width-spreading Aussies, who do so well keeping the ball alive and snapping defenses with a relentless attack.
The embodiment of Australia 7s: Charlotte Caslick / Photo: Jackie Finlan
“We’re very excited that we get to play Australia five times. They’re a great team and we get to learn from it and get better and better each match,” said USA and Falcons captain Nicole Heavirland after game one. “One of the takeaways [from this match], we just need a little bit faster reaction as a team, and we’ll be good.”
The second game kicked off a half hour before the men’s USA 7s inside the stadium, and as Ryan Carlyle described, the venue brings a layer of protection. The LVI, while energetic, has its distractions, and the Falcons did well on the professional pitch.
In the fact, the Falcons never trailed. The Pearls coughed up a knock-on in their own 22 meter, and from the scrum, Alev Kelter crashed through the center. The ball worked to Jordan Gray, who took a hit and wrapped her pass to Naya Tapper on the wing. Kelter converted for the 7-0 lead.
Rugby newcomer and crossover Kelli Smith having a go. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
The Falcons erred on the restart and were later penalized to keep the Pearls attacking. The Australian side slung the ball sideline to sideline until a defender lost patience, shot up and allowed Emma Tonegato to step her way to beneath the posts, 7-all after the conversion.
The Americans had some penalty trouble, which kept play in their end. The team was lucky to excape the half with no points against, as Quirk’s blocked grubber trickled to the Falcons’ try line. Heavirland did well to secure the ball and hold onto possession, and the half ended 7-7.
The Falcons were back in the Pearls’ 22, as Tapper made a nice gain and Kelter kicked to the five meter. Four Pearls and Kelter were in pursuit, and the Aussies forced the penalty. Shortly afterward, the Falcons sent two players into a tackle and drew a not-releasing penalty of their own. After a couple of punches at the line, Carlyle moved the ball to Kelter, who stiff-armed her opposite for the converted try, 14-7.
Tapper, important on both sides of the ball. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
“We were sitting back and letting Australia attack and then we were sliding,” USA 7s coach Richie Walker spoke to adjustments made after game one. “In this game I told the girls to not sit back and go forward, and even if we get beat to continue to go forward, because Australia will keep coming.
“On attack [in game one] we were trying to go wide where Australia has a great defense, so [in game two] we decided to go more forward, and continuously go forward,” Walker continued. “And not just one phase and then wide, but after three phases and then move the ball wide and go forward.”
Carlyle helped start the third try, as she stifled a half-break with a diving ankle tackle near the Falcons’ 22 meter. That allowed Kelter to get over the ball for the poach. A penalty followed shortly afterward and moved to Tapper, who fended her opposite and sprinted the 50 meters for the try, converted by Kelter, 21-7.
Jordan Gray smash / Photo: Jackie Finlan
The Pearls took advantage of a penalty advantage and set up a 2-on-1 out wide for Quick to finish off, 21-12. But the stadium was ready to cheer and got its opportunity when Hope Rogers came on in the final two minutes. She, along with Tapper, can get the fans on their feet, and a thumping carry over the gold medalists did just that. She opened up space for Kelter on the sideline, and she scored in the corner for the 26-12 win.
“We can’t get complacent,” Walker qualified his happiness with the performance. “They’re going to make adjustments like we did, so we’ve got to be prepared. And even though we won, we’ve got to make adjustments again. There are a few things we’ve got to fix and even add, so we’ll have a different game plan for tomorrow after we look at film again tonight.
“For us, we think this is going to be the hardest tournament we play,” the coach said of the opportunity to play Australia five times in a row. “Because sometimes in pool games you might get a couple of medium games and then a hard one, or one medium and two hard, but here all five are hard. So we came into this preparation that this is going to be the hardest tournament we’ve ever played in, having to play five games against the number one team.”
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