The USA is at 2-0 in the Atlanta 7s on the Women’s World Series after holding off Russia 19-12.

The Eagles played very good defense in this game, but struggled to get the turnovers they needed to extend their early lead. That, and a missed conversion put the result in a little bit of doubt, but the Eagles eventually held on.

Meghan Bonny drew first blood and Victorial Folayan popped a perfect pass out of contact to the onrushing former Washington State All American. That move all started from a stolen lineout, but Bui Baravilala missed the conversion in front of the posts, and that miss would have its ramifications.

The Eagles continued to push forward in a very physical contest, and Russia, too, had a few attacking chances. But the hits were there, with Joanne Faavesi providing a few of them.

Folayan left the field early - whether injured or not is unclear - and Kristen Thomas stepped in just in time to get a pass deep in her own end, and just as Carlin Isles and Perry Baker have made a name for themselves scoring from long range, so Thomas did, beating two defenders and racing to the line. The kick was good and the USA led 12-0.

At halftime, USA Head Coach Ric Suggitt urged his team not to stop, because Russia would’t, and they did well - broken play led to Thomas running ahead and popping a pass from the ground to Jessica Javelet for a 19-0 lead.

They needed it. Russia worked their phase play well and scored when Ekaterina Kazakova picked and went straight ahead, dismissing Javelet with a stiff-arm.

Then their sparkplug scrumhalf Nadezda Kudinova scored after a very long period of Russian attack, marked more by the USA’s tenacious defense that at least made the Bears pay for each yard. Had the USA kicked that earlier conversion, it would have been 21-12, and game still well in hand. Instead, it was 19-12, and a turnover could have meant a tie ballgame. But Kate Zachary powered ahead on the restart to set the ruck, and Javelet kicked to touch to end it.

So Russia had pushed both New Zealand and the USA, and now have little to show for it. The USA is 2-0 and plays 2-0 New Zealand at 6:56 pm local time. The Eagles have secured a place in the quarterfinals, as have New Zealand, Australia, France, England, and Canada.

USA 19

Tries: Bonny, Thomas, Javelet

Convs: Baravilala 2

Russia 12

Tries: Kazakova, Kudinova

Convs: Kudinvo