7s Nationals: Cup Semifinals Set

The USA Club 7s National Championship is down to four teams as far as the trophy hunt is concerned. Washington Athletic Club (WAC), American Rugby Pro Training Center (ARPTC), Scion and Life West advance to this afternoon’s Cup semifinals, which are being live-streamed on The Rugby Network for free.

The most competitive quarterfinal was the final one, as Optimus and ARPTC played to a one-try decision. Perhaps that was a predictable outcome given the number of Life University and Atlanta Harlequins players there are between the squads. The opening five-and-a-half minutes saw the teams test each other, as Autumn Locicero and Su Adegoke tried to get around the edges, and the middle absorbed each other’s hits.

The first half was played entirely in ARPTC’s half and that territory eventually paid off. From a penalty in the tackle, Cyndi Campbell popped off the ground quickly and tapped through the mark to restart play. She had a 2-on-1 situation with Darian Lovelace, and the well timed pass saw the latter into the corner, 5-0.

In the second half, ARPTC nearly tied it up but Corinne Heavner chased down Alli Hale on what looked like a guaranteed score, but prevented the try in a fantastic never-say-die effort. The subsequent drop 22 went out of bounds in Optimus’ end and stayed in that half of the field. Eventually, ARPTC drew a penalty at the 22 and went quickly, allowing Hale to get through for the tying points: 5-5.

With less than a minute on the clock, ARPTC kicked the restart deep and a favorable penalty followed. From the lineout, Sophie Pyrz sped into the try zone for what would be the winning points: 10-5. There was one more restart but a penalty and kick to touch followed.

ARPTC will face Life West, which defeated ORSU 38-5 in its Cup quarterfinal. ORSU let the opening kick hit the ground and Nicole Strasko was there for the fortuitous bounce into her arms. From that favorable territory, Bianca Pallen-Ortiz was in good position to scoop up a loose ball for the first try. Nene Persinger sank the first of two first-half conversions, and then followed with her own try. Persinger was also fantastic on defense, cleaning up line breaks and preventing an Adriana Mendoza Silva try from grounding. Amy Bonte ended the half with a try and 19-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same, as Leila Opeti, Miya Wilkes and Strasko scored Life’s three tries, and Alia Ah Far converted twice. But ORSU kept plugging away and was rewarded at the death when Paris Hart dove over the line for the final score: 38-5.

The other side of the bracket saw two similar matches in that one was really close and the second more one-sided. In the Rocky Mountain vs. WAC match, the Magic were nearly the first on the scoreboard. The center ref initially called Nichole Wanamaker’s dive-over a try but a five-meter scrum resulted instead. The ball moved wide to Erica “Legs” Legaspi and the wing tore away for what looked like an incredible 95-meter try – but Sam Sullivan had the pace and angle to smother that attempt. A penalty did result and ball moved quickly to Megan Sanders on the far touchline for the try, 5-0.

WAC increased its lead to 12-0 after Lauren Barber sucked in two defenders and sent an overhead pass to Sanders for the try. The captain also converted. But then Rocky Mountain surged as the half neared, working a good team try to Katie Lohaus for a corner score, and then capitalizing on a penalty from 40 meters out and again freeing up space for Lohaus to score: 12-10 HT.

Legaspi displayed that deadly footwork to stun the sideline and cover defense, and scored her second of the game, which Sanders converted, 19-10. And then the Magic closed the gap, as Sullivan worked a defense trying to contain her, made very good ground, and then driven into touch by Sanders sweeping. The Magic then stole the subsequent lineout and returned it 15 meters for the try, 19-15. WAC made it a two-score game when Nikki Kenyon took a penalty 50 meters for a try, and Sanders’ conversion sealed the win: 26-15.

WAC will play Scion, which scored 24 points in both halves to beat Tempe 48-7 in the quarterfinals. Three penalties put Scion in scoring position early on and Bridget Kahele broke weak off the scrum for the game’s opening points. Another penalty saw Kimber Rozier break away, and although Tempe’s Laura Kujawski was able to track down the former Eagle, Rozier found Camille Johnson in support and connected for the corner try. Rozier added the extras from a tough angle. Good defensive pressure eventually force a missed pass that ended up in Scion’s hands. From a five-meter penalty, Jess Lu scored and Rozier converted. Rozier closed out the first seven minutes with a try: 24-0.

Katie Lutton dotted down a breakaway try, and kicking duties shifted to Lauren Rhode, who added two. Tempe was then rewarded for its hard work, and from a lineout in its own end, Kujawski pulled away for the try. It was the first points scored against Scion all tournament, and the conversion made it 31-7. The game was out of reach for the Ninjas, especially as Emily Fulbrook added three-straight tries: 48-7.

CUP QF RESULTS

Scion 48-7 Tempe

WAC 26-15 Rocky Mountain

Life West 38-5 ORSU

ARPTC 10-5 Optimus

SEMIFINALS

1pm Cup: Scion v Washington AC (stad)

120 Cup: Life West v ARPTC (stad)

120 Plate: Tempe v Rocky Mountain (2)

120 Plate: ORSU v Optimus (3)