Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
The USA advance deeper into the Dubai 7s title race after defeating Russia 28-7 in the Cup quarterfinals. The Eagles will now face New Zealand, which beat Fiji 24-10, in the semifinals at 5:36 a.m. EST.
Russia hurt itself with unforced handling errors in the first half, and the USA defense did well to pressure mistakes in tight as well. The seventh-ranked team was the first to threaten with a score, when its deep, driving kickoff sent the Americans retreating. But Lauren Doyle did well to gather the ball and straighten up the attack. A dropped pass, however, allowed Russia to swarm the tackle, turnover the ruck, and build an overload out wide as the USA regrouped on its five meter. But the finishing pass out wide sailed forward into touch, and presaged missed opportunities to come.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
The Americans did an excellent job of punishing that error, and retaliated from the scrum on its five meter. Kristi Kirshe made good gains up the sideline, and the recycle moved to Alev Kelter for a power run up the middle. Twice, Jordan Gray-Matyas did a great job of committing multiple defenders and then working the ball the free, and a pass off the top made its way to Kristen Thomas, who wove through for the game’s first try. Kelter hit the first of four conversions for the 7-0 lead.
Russia did well to retain the restart and while the team held onto the ball for a few phases, the defense pushed the attack backward. Eventually a pass to no one moved the game to the 10 meter and a knock-on in an attempted switch handed the ball to the USA in good position. From the scrum, the ball moved to Kirshe, who is too powerful to be stopped from 10 meters out from the try line, 14-0.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
With two minutes remaining in the half, Russia had three opportunities to build some momentum, as a solid restart, a USA forward pass and penalty afforded time with ball in hand. But two more passes into touch stymied those opportunities and the USA took a two-try lead into the break.
Russia absorbed the USA’s heavy contact phases that followed the restart and was eventually rewarded with a knock-on. The team attempted to get into an offload game but Nicole Heavirland was well positioned for a an intercept, and the Eagles countered quickly. Doyle recognized that no one was home and grubbed through the line with Kelter quick on the chase. Russia gathered the ball but Kelter was there to stand up a counterattack. As the two grappled for possession, the ball skirted free and Kirshe was in support for the quick pick-up and try, 21-7 with Kelter’s conversion.
Photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)
The game wasn’t won yet but Russia aided the USA’s cause when it attempted to take a short restart in the air, but instead knocked on. Both sides exchanged errors – a Russian yellow card for not releasing, a double-pump during a USA lineout – but again it was Russia’s hands that failed them at the wrong moment. When the ball hit the ground, the Americans advanced, and a massive Kelter drive through the ruck forced a hasty Russian hand on the ball. The scrum in Russia’s end saw a few sideline-to-sideline phases follow, and then Kelter took the final pass in the middle of the pitch and bowled over Khamidova from five meters out, spinning around into the try zone, 28-7.
Like Glendale, the USA will face New Zealand in the Cup semifinals. The Eagles won the teams’ previous meeting 19-17. Kickoff is at 5:36 a.m. EST and viewable on NBC Sports Gold.