The USA U18 girls took 5th in the Global Youth 7s in Auckland, New Zealand, finsihing the final day with their first loss and then an impressive win.
Pool play went nicely for the USA team. They moved the ball well, showcasing some serious pace on the outside and running the attack through flyhalf and Knightmare Rugby (Rugby PA) standout Bella Voegal. Long Island University speedster Koris Fields was excellent in space, while the likes of Chloe de Leon (Carmel Rugby, Indiana) and Dartmouth’s Paula Almeida were giving defenses fits in the middle.
The USA ran through pool play with two major blowout victories and a closer struggle with the Australia Cavaliers, which they won 22-12.
In the Round of 16 the USA faced fellow American team Belmont Shore which had done very well to make it into the top knockout bracket.
In this game Belmont Shore had power and looked work offloads up the middle. For their part the USA team looked a little impatient, and certainly were challenged in the tackle. The teams traded tries, with Belmont Shore constructing their tries a little bit better and the USA team getting their tries more from breakaways.
The teams tied 12-12 at halftime, and in the second half a breakaway from Anna Henrich put the USA team ahead 19-12. After that, Belmont Shore’s wind seemed to flag, and USA’s superior depth and pace started to show as they pulled away 33-12.
Quarterfinals
This all set the USA up for the quarterfinals. And here’s where they ran into trouble. The New Zealand U18 national team was the first team to really match the USA in the combination of power, speed, and fitness. Their ball movement was strong, too, and the result was a 33-0 lead. Fields did score at the end of the game, perhaps just reward for how hard they worked, but it was the New Zealand who were into the semifinal.
In a result that should put the rest of the world on notice, Australia then beat this very, very capable New Zealand side 40-7 to make the final, where they would face a talented Japan side.
