While one side of the Glendale 7s Cup Semifinal round was lopsided in its result, the USA vs. New Zealand game delivered on end-to-end action and anxiety. But for a second-straight game, the Americans overcame a deficit to win to beat the defending tournament champions 19-17.
“We just wanted to stick to the process,” Cheta Emba said of momentum carrying over from the quarterfinal 29-26 win over Canada. “We celebrated a little bit then just went back to the locker room and started regrouping and getting ready for the next one. One step at a time.
“We just wanted to keep tightening it up on defense and playing what opened up instead of forcing it,” the prop said of goals heading into the Black Ferns showdown.
The USA kept the opening kickoff. Jordan Matyas charged ahead to draw multiple defenders and got those rangy arms through for the pass to Alev Kelter supporting back inside. There was no defense in sight and Kelter grounded the ball between the posts, then made the conversion: 7-0.
Michaela Blyde knocked on the restart and play remained in the Black Ferns’ half for the majority of the first half. The Eagles had some attacking opportunities inside the 10 but then Ruby Tui forced a not-releasing penalty when support was slow to Naya Tapper out wide. The Black Ferns had an opportunity for ground, but then Blyde took eyes off the switch with Kelly Brazier for a knock-on.
The Eagles looked to build off an attacking scrum but a cross-field kick from Lauren Doyle didn’t go as planned and New Zealand returned to the front foot. After a few phases and penalty advantage, Stacey Waaka stepped her opposite out wide and cut back across the covering defense for the try, 7-5 into the break.
New Zealand sent the second-half kickoff into touch and the USA lineout moved wide for some ground, but Gayle Broughton drew a not-releasing penalty in the tackle. Brazier went quickly through the mark and tested the USA’s ability to reset quickly. Brazier attempted a looping pass over Cheta Emba’s head and it was too attractive to not attempt the intercept. The bat-down resulted in a yellow card, and space opened up out wide for Shakira Baker to dive into the corner. But Doyle’s diehard defense prevented the try as she drove Baker’s foot to touch and the grounding wasn’t controlled.
The next few iterations saw USA scrums and lineouts inside the 10 meter, and New Zealand was really threatening a turnover. So Kelter booted the ball downfield for some relief. Blyde recovered the ball well and Kristi Kirshe was all over the chase, but that dismantling New Zealand attack went to work. Baker eventually fended off a high-tackler for the centered try, which Brazier converted: 12-7 to New Zealand.
New Zealand hurt itself with a not-10 restart and after a few phases, Kirshe took on Tui in contact, and won. The Americans retook the lead after Kelter’s conversion: 14-12. Abby Gustaitis then did a great job of batting back the restart, and that culminated with a 2-on-1 situation for Nicole Heavirland and Kirshe against Brazier. Ground was made but Brazier held on, and the ball worked back to the middle. Gustaitis sent a pass out the back to Doyle looping around, and the co-captain scored the team’s third try: 19-12 to the USA.
There was time for one more play and it looked like Blyde caught the restart and stepped into touch to end the game. The USA celebrated and then the head ref indicated the kick went out on the full. Play restarted at the 50 and New Zealand looked confident as it built to the try line. An offsides penalty occurred right in front of posts, but the defense held as Brazier tried to slither into the try zone. The Black Ferns had no choice but to go wide, and they found success as Waaka dove into the corner.
It all came down to the conversion but the pressure found Brazier and it was well off the mark: 19-17 to the USA.
“We definitely made progress and we got the result, which is always the end goal,” Emba reflected on the performances. “[The final’s berth] is the first one of the new season. We’re very excited and honored to be here but now it’s back to the process and hopefully get it done this next game.”
The Eagles take on Australia in the Glendale 7s final at 4:58 p.m. MT.
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