USA Women Close Out 2-0 Day in Cape Town
USA Women Close Out 2-0 Day in Cape Town
Day One at the Cape Town 7s was a good one for the USA women's team.
Playing a slightly more varied attack that included a few switch moves, some better pass-follow, and a few short balls, the Eagles beat Japan 19-14 in a game they had under control and Canada 24-7.
In fact, the difference between the two games was essentially the closing-out part. The USA led 19-7 late in both instances, but did a much, much better job if stifling any comeback against Canada, while Japan scored with a few ticks on the clock remaining.
The first try on the day was produced by Nicole Heavirland skating across to draw two defenders and then feeding a short ball to Kris Thomas, who did the rest. It's not a flashy play, but it's a play, and it worked. After winning the ball following the restart the Eagles sent it wide to Kristi Kirshe, who showed some of that agro of old and burst out of a tackle, fended off another, and pulled away from a third to score a very entertaining try. Kayla Canett converted and it was 14-0.
The Eagles kind of slowed down after that. Japan scored, exploiting a couple of penalties, but in the second half some smart footwork from Jaz Gray and a setup by Ilona Maher put Canett through. Japan scored at the end of the game but the Eagles won the restart and kicked to touch to end the game 19-14.
In the second game, the match looked to be a tight one, as usual, with Canada. Naya Tapper burst through for a trademark early try. Canada answered and it was 7-7. The teams battled back and forth and it wasn't until just at the end of the half that the USA took the lead—Kirshe again the catalyst as she cut through up the middle off a switch move with Maher for a 12-7 halftime advantage.
The second half was almost all USA, with Canada committing a series of penalties, some of them really not smart. A nicely-worked team try put Gray over, and she then capped off the game with her second. That second try came after the Eagles tried to kick deep to ice the game. It didn't quite come off, but Sam Sullivan's chase made life difficult for the Canadians, and the swarming USA defense forced the Canadians back. Eventually the Eagles got the ball back, and a nice skip pass put Gray over.
It was an aggressive, varied performance from the USA. Their tackling was accurate and generally they avoided costly penalties. And putting Canada away is something fans will enjoy seeing.
With France and Canada tying, the USA leads Pool C with a 2-0 record, and have clinched a place in the quarterfinals win or lose versus France. However, if they play against France the way they played against Canada, they shouldn't have too many problems.
