In a refreshing interlude from this rugby-less dystopia, the U.S. Women’s National Team held the first of two intrasquad scrimmages at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo. The squads were within a score of each other through 65 minutes, and then the Stripes pulled away from the Stars for a 34-12 win. The rematch occurs on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. Central and live-streamed for free on FloRugby.com.
Even though many players were coming out of an eight-week residency, the impact of real game-day pressure showed itself. There were missed connections that chopped up play, and execution suffered in the deeper phases, but the game offered plenty of insight – especially in the forwards. Highlights included the throw-in accuracy of hooker Kathryn Treder, the relentless breakdown work of Elizabeth Cairns (who was named MVP of the match), and the impressive debut of Hallie Taufoou.
The game also witnessed four scrumhalves at work. Carly Waters and Cassidy Bargell started at No. 9 for their respective sides and battled an aggressive defensive launch all first half. Waters did a better job of absorbing that pressure, while Bargell sometimes struggled to send a successful pass to the backs, choking up some of the Stars’ go-forward.
But Bargell is a great attacking scrumhalf and also applied good defensive pressure around the scrum. Approximately 15 minutes into the match, Bargell took on No. 8 Jordan Matyas at the back of the scrum and forced a hasty pass to Waters. Fortunately for the Stripes, hard-carrying fullback Jetta Owens was able to go forward and negate the retreat. Megan Foster, who was the mark of consistency for the Stripes, sent a kick downfield for Sarah Levy to chase. The wing did a superb job managing contact and the sideline to keep the ball in play, and Stripes captain Emily Henrich was quick in support to secure possession.
Play remained in the Stripes’ half even as the Stars had opportunities to clear their lines – from a not-straight lineout, to Nicole Strasko forcing a favorable not-releasing penalty, to a Foster kick that went out the back. The Stars gave up a penalty approximately 22 meters out and dead-center, and Foster slotted the three points easily, 3-0.
The Stars put together some decent passes of play from the restart. A nice leading pass to Rachel Johnson saw the flanker bust up the sideline and Evan Hoese did a good job of scooping the ball up off the ground and continuing forward. No. 8 Katie Johnson hit Bargell bursting off the scrum, and more territory followed, especially as Hope Rogers-Dellerman picked up the momentum forward. After a series of goal-line attempts, wing Ilona Maher drew a high-tackle penalty while diving over the line and the Stars reset for a five-meter scrum. The pack then marched its opposition into the try zone, and just as Bargell picked from the base and spun off the defense, the referee called a penalty try: 7-3 to the Stars.
Both teams had points on the board, and the game opened up for the rest of the half. A short throw-in from Treder to Rachel Johnson saw the duo dance down the sideline and connect nicely with Bargell and Taufoou. The Stripes later answered as Foster dummied past her opposite and offloaded to Cairns running on. The flanker tore into open field and worked a 2-on-1 with Waters, but the scrumhalf’s finishing pass back to Cairns was well forward.
There was a lot of that – bursts of greatness muted by some execution errors. Again, all of it is to be expected when players haven’t played 15s in a year.
With time winding down, the Stripes added a lead-changing score through the forwards. Foster sent a penalty kick to the five meter, and after a solid Jojo Kitlinski throw-in and Jenny Kronish gather, the pack sent its driving maul to the try line. Cairns recycled and re-hit the pile, then dug out the ball and fell off the side for the try, which Foster converted: 10-7 into the break.
The third quarter was an extension of the first half. Ball possession was still an issue as players like Strasko, Matyas and Cairns – who blocked a Katana Howard kick on the goal line – punished slow support to the tackle. There was some nice running rugby between Levy, Catie Benson and Rachel Ehrecke for gains, and same with Katie Johnson to Maher and then Amy Talei Bonte – but both occasions ended in knock-ons.
Scrumhalves Olivia Ortiz and Shelby Lin then took the pitch within close proximity of each other. They are both very good at keeping the game quick and have the composure to make those tight little offloads to on-running support. Near the 60-minute mark, Matyas sent the scrum ball to Ortiz breaking to the weak side, and the halfback took the angle on three defenders. Right before impact, Ortiz passed to Levy on the sideline, and that contact inadvertently took out the wing’s best positioned pursuer. Levy then swerved around the final defender for the try. Foster added a lovely conversion for the 17-7 lead.
The Stars scored right away. Neariah Persinger gathered Foster’s restart, and then reserve Erica Jarrell pulled in a pass from Nick James to tear into Stripes’ territory. Lin was in quick pursuit, picked to the weak side of the ruck and flicked the ball to Hoese, who quickly shipped it to Taufoou running on. The lock booked it to the corner for the try, 17-12, with approximately 15 minutes to go.
A nice series out wide helped set up more points for the Stripes. Henrich collected an errant pass and offloaded to Rachel Ehrecke to keep the ball alive. The ball cycled quickly through Jett Hayward, Henrich again and Bulou Mataitoga. Shortly afterward, Cairns drew a not-releasing penalty, and the ball moved to Ehrecke for a burst forward. Another penalty followed and Foster added three, 20-12 to the Stripes.
With approximately 10 minutes remaining, Kristi Kirshe finally got an opportunity to showcase the skills that fast-tracked her to Chula Vista. The wing pulled in a high pass and then side-stepped at least five would-be tacklers while weaving through traffic. Just before a tackle stuck, Kirshe sent the ball back to the middle of the field for Foster to score beneath the posts and convert, 27-12.
The game ended with one more Stripes’ try, and it was a good one. The team earned a penalty in the scrum and Matyas went quickly off the back. Cairns was positioned right off the No. 8’s hip and took the pass out of contact, continuing up field. There were two quick phases that Ortiz moved nicely, and then Owens did a superb job timing the overhead pass to Kayla Lawson against a converging defense. The track star and USA 7s resident stepped the final defender and cruised to a fast try – Lawson’s first in any type of 15s competition. Foster, as she’d done all done, added the conversion from the sideline, 34-12 the final.
Stay tuned for follow-ups and be sure to watch the rematch on FloRugby.com this Saturday.
USA STARS 12: Penalty try, Hallie Taufoou (T)
- Nick James (C)
- Kathryn Treder
- Hope Rogers-Dellermann
- Sam Luther
- Hallie Taufoou
- Nicole Strasko
- Rachel Johnson
- Kathryn Johnson
- Cassidy Bargell
- Katana Howard
- Ilona Maher
- McKenzie Hawkins (VC)
- Amy Talei Bonte
- Evan Hoese
- Neariah Persinger
- Paige Stathopoulos
- Allie Schrenker
- Lisa Jackson
- Erica Jarrell
- Darian Lovelace
- Shelby Lin
- PK Vincze
- Kelsie O’Brien
USA STRIPES 34: Megan Foster (T, 4C, 2P), Sarah Levy (T), Kristi Kirshe (T), Kayla Lawson (T)
- Maya Learned
- JoJo Kitlinski (VC)
- Charli Jacoby
- Jenny Kronish
- Julia Buescher
- Rachel Ehrecke
- Bitsy Cairns
- Jordan Matyas
- Carly Waters
- Megan Foster
- Sarah Levy
- Emily Henrich (C)
- Bulou Mataitoga
- Bulou Mataitoga
- Jetta Owens
- Jet t Hayward
- Catie Benson
- Sam Tancredi
- Evelyn Ashenbrucker
- Olivia Ortiz
- Matalasi Morrissette
- Kayla Lawson
- Nichole Wanamaker