Henrich, seen here with the High School All-Americans, was named USA Player of the Match / Photo: Dave Ramage
The Canada U20s defeated the Women’s Junior All-Americans (WJAAs) 36-12 to kick off the Tri-Nations Cup in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Americans have a week to prepare for their second and final match – England U20s on Aug. 14 – while the host will play England on Aug. 10 and Aug. 18.
Nearly 10 minutes into the match, Canada captain Sophie de Goede scored the first of four tries from No. 8. The USA rallied with an Alex Sedrick try off the wing, but then the Victoria, B.C., native dotted down two more tries before the break. Tausani Levale added the first of three conversions for the 17-5 lead after 40 minutes.
Canada retained momentum in the second half and sent inside center Maddison Gold, de Goede and Levale across for tries. With Levale’s conversions, the hosts led 36-5. The final points of the game came from USA inside center Emily Henrich’s try and lock Natalie Gray’s conversion, 36-12 to Canada. Henrich, who graduated from Orchard Park High School this spring, is heading to Dartmouth College in the fall and will join Canada U20 prop Idia Ihensekhien, a returning sophomore, in Hanover, N.H., this collegiate 15s season.
The livestream and delayed stream malfunctioned and thus there is no match to view. Rugby Canada indicated that it would post the video on Rugby Nova Scotia.
WJAA ROSTER
1. Tiara A’au
2. Destiny Arena (Ellie Fromstein)
3. Penina Tuilaepa (Izzy Manu)
4. McKenna Strong (Liz Wilson)
5. Natalie Gray (Tori Jones)
6. Lauren Thunen (Sam Tancredi)
7. Morgan Freeman (Aniya Matina)
8. Adi Finau Tamaivena
9. Olivia Ortiz (MaryJane Pasioles)
10. Kayla Canett (vc)
11. Alex Sedrick
12. Emily Henrich
13. Mata Hingano (c)
14. Sui A’au
15. Cassidy Bargell
Canada U20: 36
Tries: de Goede 4, Gold, Levale
Cons: Levale 3
WJAA: 12
Tries: Sedrick, Henrich
Cons: Gray
TRI-NATIONS CUP SCHEDULE
Aug 7: Canada U20 36-12 WJAA
Aug 10 @ 5:30 p.m. ET: Canada U20 v England U20
Aug 14 @ 5:30 p.m. ET: England U20 v WJAA
Aug 18 @ 3 p.m. ET: Canada U20 v England U20