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USA Drops First Madrid 7s Match

  • 21 Feb 2021
  • 342 Views

Photo: Alex Ho, hoiho.net

The USA and Russia were both undefeated heading into their fourth round robin match, but it’s Russia that is now 4-0 at the Madrid 7s. The Eagles face France, also 3-1, and the outcome will determine which teams replays Russia in the final at 11:40 a.m EST.

The game started well as co-captain Abby Gustaitis flew familiarly through the air to retain the USA’s kickoff. The ball moved quickly to Nia Toliver, who fought through contact on the sideline and then popped to her feet for another three meters and the corner try, 5-0. But Russia reacted with the very next possession and established a lead that it held for the majority of the match.

From the restart, Russia did a good job of spreading the ball and capitalizing on a speed mismatch between Elena Zdrokova and … everyone. She was given too much room along the sideline that Toliver couldn’t chase down her first pull-away try, which Kristina Seredina converted, 7-5. The subsequent restart dribbled across the 10 meter, allowing Russia to swarm Gustaitis as she tried to secure the ball for her side. Fortunately Cheta Emba was nearby and stripped the ball from Russia, but the possession ended in Toliver gathered into touch. Emba repeated the thievery shortly afterward, when Russia attempted to reverse flow off its lineout, but again, the steal didn’t amount to much as an unforced knock-on halted play.

Russia built from another scrum, kept momentum after a penalty in the ruck, and then Baizat Khamidova took advantage of a 2-on-1 on the sideline to put Zdrokova away for a second try. Seredina added the extras for the 14-5 lead. Russia nearly extended that lead before the buzzer, forcing a knock-on at the base of the ruck and then switching fields off its scrum. A forward pass halted the drive.

Russia stayed in the defense-disrupting mindset in the second half, but the USA scrambled well from the second-half kickoff and kept possession. Co-captain Kristen Thomas burst forward and through the tackle hit Emba coming on. The prop pushed off the defense and then pulled away for the centered try that Nicole Heavirland converted, 14-12.

As Russia attempted to run out of its own end, Sui A’au picked off a pass near the 30 meter, and Thomas did well to step out of contact and keep moving forward. Kasey McCravey also moved well through traffic and connected with Heavirland, who drove to inside the 10 meter. A penalty followed, perhaps something in the clear-out, offering Russia some relief with four minutes to play.

On back-to-back occasions, both while spreading the ball off the lineout, Russia sent a pass that hit deck. The defense swarmed, possession got choppy, but Russia was able to hold on inside its 22. A lose ball on the sideline saw McCravey tackle a player without the ball, and the yellow card that followed put the USA down a player for the rest of the match. Nevertheless, the Americans were able to score and take the lead. A knock-on awarded the USA a center scrum at Russia’s 22. When flyhalf Lauren Doyle got the pass, she cut inside her opposite for the fast, centered try, 14-12 with Heavirland’s conversion.

There were 15 seconds on the game clock when Heavirland sent a deep restart, and a sense of dread built as Russia looked calm in what was amounting to a final possession. Nothing fancy, Russia worked the numbers advantage, and Zdrokova took a switch ball past three defenders coming across, scoring her third long-range try of the game. Seredina added the conversion for the 21-19 win.

Next up, France and then the final placing matches.

USA 19

Tries: Toliver, Emba, Doyle

Cons: Heavirland 2

RUSSIA 21

Tries: Zdrokova 3

Cons: Seredina 3

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