Friday saw three wins for the USA in the two Madrid SVNS tournaments, putting both the men and the women in good position to achieve the goals they have set out.
USA Women
The Eagle women had just the one game to play, as they work their way through a tough pool in search of the season championship, or at least a podium finish. And while the final scoreline of 26-19 over Canada seems to indicate a close game, it really wasn’t.
The USA kicked deep to start the game and pinned Canada inside their own in-goal. Alev Kelter then forced a penalty, and from the ensuing scrum, a simple pass out to Ilona Maher saw her under the posts.
Up 7-0 the USA kicked deep again. They didn’t quite get the same easy try, however, and instead Canada broke out and looked like Charity Williams would go 50 meters to answer. But Eagle Alex Sedrick got on her horse and chased WIlliams down, making a tackle just short of the tryline and forcing a knock-on. It was a superb hustle play and most certainly save a try.
Eventually the USA got out of their own 22 with one of their prettiest tries of the season. Maher broke out, linked with Sam Sullivan, and then took the return offload before passing inside to Kayla Canett in support. She took off for 50 meters to cap a length-of-the-field movement that set the USA up for a 14-0 lead. (No rest for Canett after that try as she had to make the conversion, too, but she did.)
With time ticking away in the first half a long sequence of patient USA defense was capped by a rollicking tackle from Steph Rovetti. That loosened the ball and Maher fed Kristi Kirshe for a breakaway under the sticks. Canett converted and it was 21-0 at the break.
Canada looked to fight back, of course, and a nicely-taken try on a shake-and-bake and some acceleration from Piper Logan inched Canada closer at 21-7. But the USA responded. A loop movement between Sedrick and Alena Olsen got them close. Sedrick then worked hard in the support, added another run, and then got back on her feet to take the final offload from Maher to score in the corner. That made it 26-7, and Canada had a ton of work to do.
They got one back on a bit of a mismatch when two USA defenders tried to tackle Fancy Bermudez, both slipped off, and she was in. But the conversion was missed, so as time wound down there really was no chance for Canada to come back. They scored on a breakaway from Keyara Wardley with time up, but it didn’t matter.
USA 26
Tries: Maher, Canett, Kirshe, Sedrick
Convs: Kelter, Canett 2
Canada 19
Tries: Logan, Bermudez, Wardley
Convs: Daniels, Hogan-Rochester
Next up for the USA is Great Britain and then New Zealand. And remember, this is a straight two four-team pools shot to the semis. There’s no reprieve if you finish 3rd in your pool, so it’s a must-win versus GB.
Also winning on Day One were New Zealand, France, and Australia, so the usual suspects are chasing the medals.
