[USA Rugby] Eagles Take Home Dubai Bronze

DUBAI, UAE – For the sixth straight tournament, dating back to the 2018-19 season, the USA Women’s Sevens have reached the podium. [Lead photo: Alex Ho (hoiho.net)]

Winning bronze in a 24-7 defeat of Olympic gold medalists Australia, hours after a devastating loss to eventual Dubai Champions New Zealand, the USA are now tied with the Black Ferns Sevens for No. 1 in the world.

 

When asked about the keys to the win, USA Sevens player Ilona Maher said:

“One thing we did was just flush that New Zealand game. Just flush it, don’t think about it. We made a lot of mistakes there but didn’t let that affect us in the next game or bring that over. Just sticking to our game plan and learning what we did, honing it and perfecting it.”

 

 

The match was tense from the get-go. Australia attempted to draw out their own physicality but committed a number of errors in the process. Alev Kelter scored first from a lineout and fend off a high tackle; adding a powerful run, escaping two tackles and setting up a new phase for Cheta Emba to score shortly after, 12-0.

Errors were evident on both sides of the ball but the United States had again found a resiliency that kept them from being drawn into the mistakes. Added to that was trouble in execution on the Australian side and the Eagles Sevens took a strong lead into the break.

When it seemed like Australia had the edge on penalties, dynamics shifted quickly as Alev Kelter forced a turnover and Kristi Kirshe picked up the loose ball to score mid posts.

 

 

A string of errors back on the Australian side put the Americans right back in the 22, after which a turnover from an Aussie scrum led to Jordan Matyas dotting down right at the line.

The opposition ended the shutout in the final minute to make it 24-7 before the Americans kicked to touch to capture their second medal of the season and sixth in as many tournaments.

Buzzing with momentum, headed straight for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in July, the U.S. side will now head to Cape Town for the third round of the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

 

 

The tournament takes place December 13-15 on NBC Sports Gold with a schedule to be confirmed in the coming days.

TRIES | Alev Kelter, Cheta Emba, Kristi Kirshe, Jordan MatyasCONS | Nicole Heavirland

STARTERS

6. Lauren Doyle5. Alev Kelter11. Kris Thomas4. Nicole Heavirland1. Cheta Emba8. Jordan Matyas12. Kristi Kirshe

RESERVES3. Abby Gustaitis (11′)7. Naya Tapper (7′)10. Kayla Canett (11′)2. Ilona Maher (7′)9. Eti Haungatau (11′)

 

DUBAI SEVENS RESULTS
vs Brazil | 29-7 (W)
vs Russia | 33-14 (W)
vs Canada | 34-10 (W)

Cup Quarterfinals vs Russia | 28-7 (W)
Cup Semifinals vs New Zealand | 25-7 (L)
Bronze Final vs Australia | 24-7 (W)