Kelter scored in all 3 matches / Photo: Mike Lee / KLC fotos for World Rugby
The USA dropped a 19-14 decision to Australia during the final pool play round of the Hamilton 7s, the fourth stop on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the women. The truncated tournament moves directly to the placing matches and Cup semifinals, and the Eagles, having finished second in Pool B, did not beat the point differential for a semifinal berth. The USA will play for 5th at 9:14 p.m. ET.
USA handling errors precipitated Australia’s two first-half tries, but the eventual victors also did well to hold onto possession, draw breakdown penalties from its opponent and take advantage of some fatigue in the heat. The USA was calm in the face of Australia’s press defense and used its physicality well to open up space for teammates.
Abby Gustaitis got hands on Alev Kelter’s opening kickoff, winning possession for the Americans, but then an unforced knock-on out wide forfeited the ball. From the scrum, Nicole Heavirland smothered her opposite behind the set piece and set in motion a series of tackles that pushed Australia to its goal line. Opportunity loomed, but then Australia got a couple of short breaks and Emilee Cherry kicked through the line into unguarded territory. Naya Tapper was in quick pursuit and after a second Cherry kick off the ground was ready to hold up Cherry after the pickup. Instead, the veteran overran the ball and let Ellia Green scoop it up, acting like a natural screen. It was an easy try for the Aussie wing, 5-0.
Green scored all three of Australia’s tries but the most impressive individual effort came from Kris Thomas. After the USA secured the restart and Ilona Maher powered up the middle, Lauren Doyle did a good job of working a fast-up defense, evading the tackle, delaying the pass as Kelter ran a dummy line, and connecting with Thomas out wide. Thomas displayed great footwork and pace to get Green turned around, and split the defense for a pull-away try that Kelter converted: 7-5 to the USA.
The Eagles looked in good form and players like Maher and Kelter were exceptional in bouncing off tackles and keeping the attack moving. The USA built to the Aussie 22 but then another unforced knock-on – eyes off the ball – halted a scoring opportunity. Sharni Williams did a bit of maneuvering in the counter-attack and set free Green, who pushed off the tiring defense for the try and conversion, 12-7.
There was less than a minute remaining in the half, and Australia’s restart did not go 10 meters. The team regrouped with a free kick at the 50 and moved the ball well, but support wasn’t close enough as Gustaitis broke through the line and the offload hit the ground. The halftime whistle followed.
The second half started on a promising note, as the USA took the kickoff and worked it to Kelter on a vicious tear to the sideline. Kelter was looking for the offload to Thomas on the wing but superb defense cut off that outlet. Back-to-back not-releasing penalties to Australia’s benefit followed.
A couple changes of possession near the USA’s 22 eventually saw Heavirland use a penalty to kick to touch. As the Eagles attempted to run out of its end, a couple of missed passes could have resulted in turnovers, but good scrambling from players like Kelter kept the attack alive. Now in Australia’s end, the ball moved to Maher, who pummeled a would-be tackler and then detained another two defenders. As she hit the ground, she flipped the pass to Kelter, who had the gas to beat Williams in the straightaway to the try line. Kelter centered the try and converted for the 14-12 lead.
There were three minutes to play and Heavirland sent a deeper restart that Australia fielded without pressure. Tapper gave up an offsides penalty in an attempt to pressure off the ruck, and the offense did a fantastic job of working the sidelines and holding onto the ball. Biding its time for the right striking moment, Green swiped past Tapper’s out-stretched arms and raced away for the lead-changing try: 19-14 with Emma Sykes’ conversion.
There were 30 seconds to play and Australia failed to send a second restart 10 meters. The USA had one more shot to engineer one more score – a situation in which the Eagles have been in, and triumphed over, several times before (reference Glendale 7s). Heavirland tapped through the mark and rushed toward the defense with a flat support runner, then sent a kick over the line. Unfortunately the kick wasn’t deep enough and Australia made the over-the-head catch and kicked to touch to end the game.
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off. The USA finished second in the pool and needed to beat France’s +50 point differential in order to take the “Best 2nd” spot to the Cup semifinals. The USA ended at +29 and will play for 5th against England.
USA Starters: Ilona Maher, Abby Gustaitis, Kris Thomas, Nicole Heavirland, Alev kelter, Lauren Doyle, Naya Tapper
USA 14
Tries: Thomas, Kelter
Cons: Kelter
Australia 19
Tries: Green
Cons: Green, Sykes
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