Great Britain won the Fast Four 7s with a 34-12 win over the USA in the final. The Eagles only trailed 19-12 at the break, but a more experienced, polished Great Britain added another three tries to end the game. The teams will see each other again next weekend in Edmonton, Canada.
Great Britain let two kickoffs hit the ground but didn’t panic in the recovery. In fact, the USA committed a penalty at one of the first rucks, and Jasmine Joyce was perfectly placed for a tap off the ground and lightning-fast sprint through an unguarded back field. Megan Jones converted that try and then Joyce’s second. From the restart, Sarah Levy lost the ball forward in a big tackle and then two U.S. defenders took each other trying to cover the flyer. Instead a hole opened up and Joyce scored again: 14-0 after three minutes.
The Americans did show some signs of hesitancy with ball in hand – save Kayla Canett, who was confidence incarnate – but that started to change with the next possession. Great Britain gave up a not-releasing penalty after tackling Levy, and then Jaz Gray and Nana Fa’avesi exchanged a few pop passes in the middle of the pitch. Summer Harris-Jones then powered through the middle of the pitch, and has the gas and angle to outrun Joyce to the try line: 14-5.
The USA kept at it and started to work the width a bit better. Canett was a great asset in that regard, and so was Harris-Jones in keeping the defense honest. After a few phases, Levy tied up two tacklers in the middle field but managed to free her hands for a dish to Gray, who looped back inside for the tight pass. Gray kept her feet moving until they crossed the try line: 14-12 with the Canett conversion.
Great Britain let the second restart hit the ground but Joyce had the presence of mind to snag the ball with her fingertips and stay in bounds. She wasn’t punished with a tackle into touch and instead was able to move the ball back into play. A pass later, the ball was in Emma Uren’s hands and she stepped out of Fa’avesi’s tackle and the diving Canett attempting to cover, then outran Levy coming across: 19-12 into the break.
Abbie Brown forced a not releasing penalty after the next restart and then quickly tapped through and hit Joyce, who then planted a monster fend along the sideline for her third try of the tournament: 24-12.
Attacking along the sideline, the USA tried a couple of picks around the breakdown, but the Great Britain defense was ready for it. Two kicks toward the Eagle try line followed; one was returned well by Levy, and the second saw a thrilling foot race between Rovetti and Amy Wilson Hardy. The ball actually hit the post to ricochet back toward play, and in that moment, the Wilson Hardy just stuck her hand out for the kncok-on. Canett did an excellent job of pulling the ball out of the USA’s five-meter scrum, curling around and kicking the ball downfield. But the territory was short-lived, as the defense collapsed out wide, setting Grace Compton free for the uncontested try: 29-12.
The USA had one more attacking opportunity but the pass from Rovetti to Fa’avesi in tight resulted in a knock-on and Great Britain scrum. The ball moved wide, tackle made, and then Wilson Hardy dummied and stepped inside the one-channel defense for the try: 34-12 the final.