Kate Zackary and Ryan Carlyle /// Photos: David Stephenson, www.numinaphoto.com
The USA Women’s 7s team got an important 22-7 win over Spain to improve to 1-1 on Day One of the Las Vegas 7s. A win against Fiji at 1:47 p.m. will determine the Eagles knockout position.
“We lost our first game, which we did in Australia,” said Naya Tapper, who acknowledge the must-win situation going forward. “For whatever reason, we like to learn the hard way to get where we want to be. So that’s exactly what’s happening now – we won this one and we gotta win the next one.”
Akin to the first match, the USA got on the board inside of a minute, as Kelly Griffin rightly spied a pinched-in defense around the tackle, 10 meters out from the try line. She passed out to Kate Zackary on the wing, who skirted into the corner and around to the middle, 5-0.
The USA benefitted from a couple of knock-ons but then a penalty handed Spain possession near its 22. USA attempted to contain Spain as it swung the ball, but a slipped tackle allowed a line on the sideline to open for Maria Losada to score. Patricia Garcia converted for the 7-5 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.
Just as it looked like the USA was going to enter the break down, captain Alev Kelter scooped up a loose ball out of the ruck and outraced her pursuers to the tryline, 12-7 with Kelter’s conversion.
Back-to-back penalties allowed Spain to build an attack in the USA’s end, and a try seemed immiment as Spain manipulated a swarming defense. But then Ryan Carlyle knocked the ball loose from the tackle and it dropped into Tapper’s hands on the try line.
“I thought I was going to have to help make the tackle,” Tapper said, “but the ball kinda went in my hands and I went into full instinct – whenever the ball gets into my hands whether I’m tired or not it just clicks for me. So I just did what I do and ran.”
Tapper peeled out wide with a teammate outside of her, barreled through two defenders and legged a full-length try. Nicole Heavirland added the conversion for the 19-7 lead.
Tapper came off after the sprint and subs like Kristen Thomas rotated on. Sam Pankey, Kelsi Stockert and Nikki Synder took the pitch for their first cap-able tournament and took on their impact roles. After a messy restart, Stockert picked up the unclaimed ball, rounded her defender and then set up Kate Zackary on the sideline for the try. Kelter’s conversion made it 24-7.
“Last year it was kinda throwing into something new,” Tapper reflected on a year ago, when she was one of the players attempting to break into the USA 7s squad. “I had been playing 15s so transitioning to 7s was a lot to learn. You can be fast and athletic, which was what I was, but I still had a lot to learn. So when Richie said, ‘You need to learn how to pass.’ I did that. It’s made me 10 times the player I [was then] and it allowed me to learn a lot of the things I didn’t think were necessary to be a good player out here.”
USA 22
Tries: Zackary 2, Tapper, Kelter
Cons: Heavirland
Spain 7
Tries: Losada
Cons: P Garcia