Photo courtesy Rugby Europe •
The Girls High School All-Americans (GHSAAs), Powered by Atavus, are into the European U18 7s Championship final after defeating Wales 36-7 and Canada 19-17 in today’s knockouts. The latter wasn’t decided until the final buzzer, when prop Julia Riekena skirted around the weakside of a ruck for her second try and the game-winning points.
The Cup semifinal against Canada started well. Flyhalf Kayla Canett made good ground on the kickoff, and then solid phases ricocheted from sideline to sideline. The defense started to press harder, and then Canett spotted open territory downfield. She booted the ball into space, Canada recovered nicely, and then returned the kick into equally unguarded space. The USA defense didn’t respond as quickly, with the exception of Cassidy Bargell, who nearly prevented the dot-down in the try zone after contesting several kicks ahead on the ground. Nonetheless, Canada was rewarded for the long chase and five points.
An errant handoff on the restart saw the USA transition to defense quickly, but Canett got the All-Americans out of trouble with a long breakaway. Riekena took a subsequent penalty for solid go-forward meters but a ballhandling error gave Canada the scrum on its own five meter. From the set piece, Canada just ran itself out of danger, showing strength in contact and good continuity in its offloading game. Finally, scrumhalf Kat Stowers at sweeper brought down a big, barreling ballcarrier and poached the ball, moving it away quickly. Canett worked the defense perfectly and gave wing Nia Toliver some more room with which to work. But all Toliver needed was that big nasty fend and good finishing speed for the try. USA took a 7-5 lead.
The restart didn’t go 10, so Canada attacked quickly from the 50. A couple of defenders with outstretched arms were pushed aside, and Canada took the lead after sidestepping the final defender for the try, 10-7.
After the break, Canada pushed its lead out to 17-7, as the defense showed some hesitancy and let powerful ballcarriers run. A penalty allowed Canada to quick-tap and take advantage of a broken line for the converted try.
As the USA tried to build a rally, the team attempted to take on Canada in tight, but captain Lilly Durbin knew more success would be enjoyed out wide and smartly moved the ball away from contact. With Riekena in the backline, the prop showcased her evasive skills, sidestepping her opposite from about midfield and pulling into open space. She had a long way to go, and Bargell was hustling in support, but the prop had the legs for the try and wherewithal to cut back beneath the posts. Canett converted, 17-12, with fewer than three minutes remaining.
The USA nearly tied it up during the next series. After another steal in the tackle, the ball moved to Canett and then reserve Alex Sedrick, who was halted meters from the line. A penalty ensued, as did a kick to touch for momentary relief. But Canada erred in the lineout, and reserve Daisy Manoa charged up-field from the short-arm penalty. Although the offload failed, the USA once again stole possession in the ruck, and Manoa and Durbin made tryline-charging runs. With no time on the clock, Riekena picked from the back of the ruck, rolled around the weakside and dotted down the winning points, 19-17.
The All-Americans showcased a lot of resiliency and poise when overcoming its biggest deficit thus far this tournament. One more test remains in host France, which defeated Spain 38-10 in its semifinal.