3-0 USA Look Light & Fresh at LA 7s

The USA Rugby Women’s 7s went undefeated in Pool C at the HSBC LA 7s and heads to Sunday’s Cup Quarterfinals inside Dignity Health Sport Park in Carson, Calif. The Eagles beat Spain 40-5, Great Britain 34-7 and Canada 22-19, and will face South Africa at 10:58 a.m. tomorrow. [All photos: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]

RELATED: Watch LA 7s for free on RugbyPass TV

The USA was fast, connected and supportive right from the start, and the result was a six-try performance against Spain Friday night. Ilona Maher led with two tries, while Sarah Levy, Sammy Sullivan, Spiff Sedrick and Kris Thomas all dotted down as well. Kayla Canett (3) and Alev Kelter (2) added the extras for the 35-point victory.

 

The flow continued this afternoon, as the Eagles did a great job challenging the middle with big physicality and then whisking the ball wide for big gains. Crucially, the support was very attentive and always in place to keep the attack in motion. But the Eagles also made their opportunities, whether it was Steph Rovetti racing through to scoop up a loose restart; or Sullivan quick-tap passing to Ari Ramsey to evade the fast-up defense; or Canett booting the ball downfield for Ramsey to chase down. The final try of the game was a beaut, as the winger kicked the sidelines-bound ball off the ground into the middle of the field and chased it down for the try.

 

All told, Ramsey (2), Rovetti, Maher, Lauren Doyle and Kristi Kirshe scored the six tries, while Kelter kicked two conversions.

Canada was also 2-0 heading into the final round of pool play, and the stadium hungered for this match-up. When these two teams met in Vancouver, Canada beat the USA 12-10 to knock the Eagles out of the Cup semifinals. Now it was time to see what hometown advantage did for the Americans.

The USA sent a deep kickoff and the sides exchanged possession in Canada’s end for the first couple of minutes. Olivia Apps kicked through the line to relieve some pressure and the chase was a bit messy. Maher eventually recovered possession, and the USA regrouped in its own end. When the ball moved wide to Alena Olsen, she did an excellent job of drawing the defense to set up the 2 vs. 1, then spun it to Sullivan, who turned her defender inside-out for the try. Kelter converted for the 7-0 lead after three minutes.

 

Speaking of drawing the defense, Maher has found a lot of success taking the scrum ball and streaking across the pitch. The opposition tends to hold, and she does an excellent job of deciding between the line-pierce or timed pass out wide. Right after the restart, Sullivan drew a not-releasing penalty in the breakdown, setting up a USA scrum in good position. Maher swept across the pitch, begging the defense to bite, and then shipped the ball wide to Naya Tapper on the sideline. The wing nearly scored but did draw a high-tackle advantage to ensure another go at the line. But it wasn’t needed, as the ball worked back inside to Kelter, who did that Kelter thing of bouncing off tackles into the try zone. It was 12-0 into the break.

 

An error on the second-half kickoff put the ball in Canada’s hands, and the work rate of Carissa Norsten helped set up Sabrina Poulin on the board, 12-5. It was an important score for the visitors, and it was equally important that the USA restored the point differential shortly afterward.

Olsen read the speed mismatch on Sophie De Goede, who otherwise has fit nicely into international 7s, and cracked the line. She was tracked down and a bit isolated, but there was no turnover, as Canada’s support came in from the side. The USA went quickly from the mark, moved the ball to Sullivan, who broke toward the edge with Ramsey outside her. Those two running beside each other demand a lot of attention, and Sullivan read the defense just right to get through and score, 17-5.

 

Canada answered right away through Krissy Scurfield, who is pure pace, and with a couple minutes to go, it was 17-12 to the USA.

But the USA got the cushion it needed not long after the restart. Sullivan again went on a big break toward the sideline and heaved the ball back into play while being tackle into touch. Ramsey kept possession but couldn’t do much more than go to ground, and that was enough. Canett was at the base of the ruck, saw the short side unguarded, and quickly picked for an unchallenged try. Joy and maybe surprise alit her face as she dove into the try zone, and the crowd met her, 22-12.

 

Canada added a consolation try and conversion after had expired. The USA had already won the game and a couple of mental mistakes put opportunity into Canada’s hands, and Asia Hogan-Rochester stretched the legs for the score: 22-19 the final.

The USA advances to the Cup Quarterfinals on Sunday against South Africa. Canada meanwhile will face France tomorrow morning. For all the results and future fixtures, visit the tournament homepage.