Day One at the Vancouver 7s was, sort of, how it has gone for the USA in previous tournaments.
The Eagles found themselves up against their longtime rivals Canada in the opening match. GRR asked coach and captain about that here:
It was an explosive showing by the USA, although a little luck helped. With a Canadian player down injured Su Adegoke took a low pass of her shins — no knock-on even though other referees might have called it — regathered, and sidestepped her way to a free run under the posts.
Two huge passes found Adegoke unmarked on the wing and she finished superbly for a second. And then just as halftime approached the former Life University star burst onto a Ariana Ramsey pass and was in under the posts.
Halftime and Canada was 19-0 down. They got one back right off the kickoff thanks to some brilliant work in the air and aggressive running up the middle, but captain Kristi Kirshe answered that by taking the next restart and going the distance.
Kaylen Thomas sold the slightest of dummies to create a hole and score, and then Autumn Czaplicki scooped up a turnover and was gone.
It was a good showing by the USA, but also a poor one by Canada. There would be sterner tests to come.
And those test were right around the corner.
USA vs Fiji
Fiji had made life difficult for the USA team before and they did here. Adegoke once more got the Eagles off on the right foot—taking a flat pass from Tahna Wilfley to gallop in from 75 meters. But Reapi Ulunisau responded almost instantly to tie it up. Sammy Sullivan, who has spent more time as a combination forward/halfback than a finisher, cut through for a well-taken answering score, and the USA led 14-7 at the break.
But Fiji’s elusiveness and ball movement were still a danger and with Thomas in the sin bin for an intentional knock-on, Fijiana punished a loose ball out of the ruck to go 70.
But right off the restat Sariah Ibarra broke a tackle and was in—Fiji lucky not to get a yellow card for a second iffy tackle as the try was scored.
Now it was 19-12 and there were three minutes to go.
Fiji had more to give and some snappy offloads down the tramlines put Atelaite Ralivaawa in.
Overtime? No. Srah Levy shrugged off a tackle with 20 seconds left and raced on through—once again jumped on as she was scoring (two late hits and an attempted hair-pull on three of the USA’s four tries). Still, it won the game and the USA was once again 2-0.
