National Youth 7s Girls Action: Rhinos, Shore, CRA

06.11.2022

While Belmont Shore and Rhinos looked the stronger teams in the National Sevens Youth Rugby Championships girls bracket, Cleveland Rugby Academy got plenty of experience and continued to play better and better.

Belmont Shore 44-0 CRA Blue

Cleveland Rugby Academy opened the game by kicking off and was able to exert some pressure when Belmont Shore made an early mistake on the kick receipt. But Belmont Shore showed a clear dominance in the scrums and stole the put-in at the first scrum of the game. They went wide quickly and scored on the wing.

Belmont Shore displayed plenty of physicality as their counterrucks pushed the CRA offense back. Another poach led to an inside score, and then another counterruck and a nice dummy made it 19-0 at halftime.

From the opening kick of the second half Belmont dominated in the tackles. That forced a CRA turnover deep in their end, leading to another score out wide for Belmont Shore. The defensive prowess of Belmont was impressive and that created scoring opportunities, leading to three more tries and s 39-0 lead. Finally they ended as they bag, going wide off the scrum. Mistakes killed the CRA Blue team.

Rhinos 57-0 CRA White

The Rhino program put pressure on CRA from the beginning. That forced some penalties that the Rhinos took quickly and scored. Right from the next kickoff Rhinos pinned CRA in their end. Getting out of trouble was tough for the Cleveland Rugby Academy, and eventually a knock-on led to a try for Rhinos.

Another deep restart and a poach led to a third score by Rhino and pretty much the same formula put them in at the corner.

Rhino's Wilson broke three tackles to score the first try of the second half, and then Zumbro powered through for two more. Avery and Flynn got in on the act and finally a stolen scrum off the restart made it 57-0.

Rhinos 43-0 CRA Blue

The Rhinos scored first off of a penalty tap run by Nola Flinn. They built on that with a try from Nakoto Myers and Myers scored again thanks to the team's ability to identify space.

The Rhinos continued to hold CRA's offense by coming up together and getting low on their tackles. They used that to force turnovers and punished them. The halftime score was 33-0 and the Rhinos continue to keep their foot on the gas to win 54-0.

This game was a one sided affair in favor of the Rhinos. Final score Rhinos 54, CRA 0

@rhinosrugbyOC looking good at @national7s_

Thanks Thomas Burrows for the interview. pic.twitter.com/L2u2p5uhf4
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) June 11, 2022

CRA Blue 21-7 CRA White

After some great defense the blue team breaks the scoring drought with a try from Amy Rolnic and follows it up with a conversion. The blue team strikes again with a 7 point add on from Vivian Bogdanski. Blue team leads at half 14-0. Blue opens up the half with a try and conversion from Amy Rolnic. White team gets on the board with a try and conversion. Final score with blue on top 21-7

Belmont Shore 19-7 Rhinos

In a clash of the two favorites to win the division, this game was a hard fought physical match between two well-coached teams.

It was a stalemate between the two for almost the whole of the first half. That was until Rhino's Mia Oh scored a breakaway try. Just when fans thought the half was over, Belmont Shore's Alison Honeycutt scored a try to tie up the match 7-7.

Early into the second half Belmont Shore's Nila Lolesia- Pua scored a diving try to make it 12-7. To cap off the game, Lolua Tauanu'u. who was a menace defensively throughout the game, sealed the deal for Belmont with a try to make 19-7.

Report by Nate Polinko and Bobby Voth
Video Interview by Thomas Burrows
Additional Reporting Liam Burrows