Playing an entertaining and wide open brand of rugby, the USA U20 women defeated Canada's U20s 40-24 Saturday in Ottawa.
Played at the same stadium where the Pacific Four senior women's games will be played, this game provided some fireworks from both sides, and was anyone's game until late in the second half.
Canada looked to play wide and use turnovers to cause the USA trouble. The Canadians were very quick over the ball and when the Americans weren't careful with their work on the ground or clearing out, Canada created chances.
In addition, outside center and Saskatchewan native Carissa Norsten was outstanding—whether on attack or playing defense Norsten was hugely effective. But Canada's connections were sometimes a bit slow and the USA defense took advantage.
Quick Start USA
The Canadians started on the front foot after a long break from Norsten. However the USA defense held, just, and then they broke out. USA flyhalf Alissa Eisenhart couldn't handle the pass designed to set her up for a clearance kick. The ball went backward, however, and Eisenhart, regathered, and cut through a gap left by the overpursuing Canadians. She made a cut and cruised out close to midfield on a somewhat improbably run. Norsten flattened the USA #10 but the Americans were now on the front foot. Eventually the ball was sent to wing Sereana Vulaono and she put on a burst of speed and was gone to score from 50 meters.
As she had all tour, Eisenhart added the extras and it was 7-0 USA.
Conscious that the USA had been able to make big breaks off restarts, Canada kicked deep and into space. That allowed them to once again threaten the USA line, and once again the Americans got out of trouble—this time prop Kambria Hartrick stole the ball in the rugby and charged ahead. Her effort was backed up by her teammates, and then a kick from fullback Ashley Cowdrey was knocked on and the USA had another chance. From that scrum they spun it wide quickly, and while they ended up in touch, the USA kept looking to go wide. A long pass set up Cowdrey to cut through and then Tiahna Padilla cut back to score near the posts for a brilliant team try. Eisenhart kicked the conversion and it was 14-0.
Canada Strikes Back
Then it seemed like Canada turned a switch and the USA kind of let off. A kick to wing Victoria Stanley for Canada saw her cut into the middle of the field looking to make a pass. Everyone marked her support so Stanley kept going and blasted through to score almost untouched. That made it 14-7. Not that long after, a disorganized defense left a gap that allowed Norsten to slice through and race in for a try. The kick was no good but now it was 17-12. USA penalties and missed tackles—and certainly some impatience—helped put Canada in scoring position again and they was over just before halftime to take a 17-14 lead.
It was a sobering lesson for the USA about waiting for the turnover rather than trying to force it at every tackle. Too many USA penalties had put them behind.
