The USA finished the Hamilton 7s in 5th place, defeating England 45-5 and earning 12 points in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings. The Eagles will head directly to Australia for the Sydney 7s, the fifth stop on the circuit.
The Eagles were relentless, but England also handicapped itself with messy passing and unforced errors, as well as missed tackles. The USA dominated contact – on the run and in the ruck – and showed good range in diversifying the starting lineup and working the whole bench. In the first half, the USA made five trips to England’s 22 and four tries resulted.
Nicole Heavirland’s opening kickoff went exactly 10 meters and Ilona Maher tipped it back to Abby Gustaitis for the recovery. The teams traded not-releasing penalties (Steph Rovetti was responsible for getting the ball back into USA’s hands) and the Eagles worked the width. Gustaitis angled toward the sideline and created enough space for Maher to switch back inside for the opening try, which Heavirland converted: 7-0.
After two quick England penalties after the restart, Rovetti took on the two outside defenders, essentially committing both while Kristi Kirshe came back inside for the offload and try. Heavirland converted, 14-0.
England built some momentum after sending a penalty kick to the USA 38 meter, but messy passing followed its lineout and the defense pounced. The ball move to Kirshe, who planted a massive fend on Abbie Brown for the wing’s second try of the match, 19-0.
Alev Kelter took the pitch in the final minute of the match and immediately made an impact, literally. After sending the restart, Kelter chased down and drove England deep into its end. After a high tackle on Kirshe, Doyle sent a flat pass to Maher, whose defender just looked gas as the prop pulled away for a second try. Kelter converted for the 26-0 halftime lead.
Twenty-year-old Ellie Kildunne asserted herself in the beginning of the second half, forcing a knock-on in a Lauren Doyle wrap-up. After two USA penalties – not releasing, not back 10 – Kildunne got past Gustaitis’ outside shoulder, pushed off Kris Thomas and scored: 26-5.
The USA let the subsequent restart hit the ground and there was momentary concern that the Eagles were easing off, but the team regrouped. England again hurt itself with a forward pass, and from the scrum, halfback Kayla Canett peeled off the back and expertly held Kildunne long enough to put Kelter into a position of power. Kelter delivered a vicious fend on Kildunne coming across and scored: 33-5 with Kelter’s conversion.
The Eagles had time for two more tries. Jordan Gray-Matyas hit and turned over an England ruck, and Canett was there to move the ball and later send the final pass to Naya Tapper for the try. Kelter converted, 40-5. Kildunne went up for the restart but batted the ball forward into Tapper’s hands. The ball eventually moved to Kelter in the center position, and in deference, the final two defenders committed. The timed pass to Canett put the scrumhalf into the corner for the final try: 45-5.
The USA finished 3-1 in New Zealand and take the 5th seed to Australia next weekend.
USA Starters: Abby Gustaitis, Ilona Maher, Eti Haungatau, Lauren Doyle, Nicole Heavirland, Steph Rovetti, Kristi Kirshe
USA 45
Tries: Kirshe 2, Maher 2, Kelter, Tapper, Canett
Cons: Kelter 3, Heavirland 2
England 5
Tries: Kildunne
USA7s #Hamilton7s