Photo: Travis Prior for USA Rugby
USA RUGBY — Closing out the summer Daily Training Environment, the USA Rugby Women’s Eagles welcomed close friends and family to Infinity Park at the Rugby Town National Training Center for an intra-squad Stars vs Stripes match. In what was a well contested match between teammates, each player was able to execute training goals from this past assembly in a game scenario.
Megan Foster got us started with a kick off to the west end of Infinity Park. The Stars would earn the ball and do well to hold possession in the early going, connecting well through the breakdown. Both teams engaged in a lot of scrum activity early, with five contested in the first 10 minutes. Great physicality was also on display in the first half with the full squad eager for this evenings match play following three weeks of training.
Stripes Captain Emily Henrich would open scoring after a brilliant grubber kick from Saher Hamdan in the 19th minute. The Stars would immediately answer however with an Alycia Washington try and conversion from flyhalf Megan Foster. Foster would go 6/6 from the boot by nights end, further cementing her status as one of the better kickers in international rugby.
As halftime approached the Stars began to pull away with a try from Captain Kate Zackary, one of two from her on the night. The Stripes continued to do well forcing turnovers and kicking to touch earning ground, but just missed capitalizing with points. Charli Jacoby would close the half with a try for the Stars after time had expired. Stars lead 21-7 going into the break.
The Stripes opened the second half on the front foot with first points from 2021 D1 Elite All American Saher Hamdan, cutting the lead to seven. It would however be all Stars from there on out as Gabby Cantorna and Eti Haugnatau also picked up scores.
The Stripes did show some flashes on the outside with line breaks and open space for Nene Persinger on the right wing, however Zackary made the highlight reel with a classic rundown and try-saving play pushing Persinger into touch. Shortly after the final whistle blows as Stars come out on top, 45-14.
The squad selections were proper balanced despite the final score, with both teams doing well to move the ball between the 22’s and quality scrums in every corner of the pitch. Ultimately building on strengths as Head Coach Rob Cain and staff continue to aim for through each assembly.
Upcoming the Women’s Eagles will look ahead to a November test match series as that sits within a year of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand – the primary goal in the team’s sights.