Kelter scored two tries against Ireland. /// Photo: Mike Lee/KLC fotos for World Rugby
Not the start the USA Women’s 7s team was looking for, but the 24-21 loss to Ireland hasn’t eliminated the team’s Cup quarterfinal potential.
The match started well, as the Americans kept their own kickoff and worked a few phases sideline to sideline. Captain Alev Kelter eventually took advantage of some room in the middle and dotted down beneath the posts a minute in. She converted her score for the 7-0 lead.
Ireland built some really nice phases from the subsequent restart and was able to bust through some tackles in the middle. Back-to-back penalties helped Ireland get inside the USA’s 22 meter, and a lineout set up Stacey Flood for the first of her two scores, 7-7. It was a miscommunication on the switch defense that allowed the final strike.
Working from its own end, the USA was on the verge of attacking into open space, as Naya Tapper sucked in the defense along the sideline. The ball moved quickly to Kate Zackary on the other side, and as the ball worked back to the middle, a knock-on ended the drive.
Instead, with no time remaining in the half, Ireland used its scrum to work another switch and confuse the defense for an Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe try, the first of her two scores. Ireland led 12-7 at the break.
Naya Tapper /// Check out more Paul Rudman photos here.
Ireland knocked on its second-half kickoff, and the USA used the possession to move the ball to Tapper on the wing. With a little room, she can really flex her physical presence and pushed off her opposite for a centered score. Nicole Heavirland slotted the conversion for the 14-12 lead with approximately five minutes to go.
The USA took its biggest lead of the day after employing Tapper once again on the sideline. AS the defenders swarmed, Ryan Carlyle quickly picked from the tackle and moved it to Joanne Fa’avesi, who timed her pass perfectly to give Kelter a little extra room on the sideline. Kelter took care of the rest for the corner try. The captain added the tough conversion for the 21-12 lead.
Ireland answered. From the restart, Ireland worked down field and created a two-on-one on Tapper for the try. Another quick attack from the restart saw anther overload out wide, and the score from Flood in the corner proved the game-winner, 24-21.
The USA faces Spain, which lost 21-19 to Fiji, at 11:02 a.m.
USA 21
Tries: Kelter 2, Tapper
Cons: Kelter 2, Heavirland
Ireland 24
Tries: Murphy Crowe 2, Flood 2
Cons: Lucy Mulhall 2