The USA Women are off to a good start in Cary, N.C., opening their NACRA 7s campaign with a 45-0 defeat of Jamaica. The Eagles built a 31-0 halftime lead before emptying their bench and giving everyone a run.

Jamaica did not do a good job of controlling aspects of the game that were controllable. The team fumbled every restart – whether from USA pressure or from none at all – and the one kick it did field, the Jamaican receiver immediately kicked the ball to touch. The USA had to field one kick – the opening one – and it turned into the first of Lauren Doyle’s three tries. The center called for a flat pass back inside Alev Kelter, and then tore 70 meters for the opening points. Kelter kicked the first of her five conversions.

Kelter’s on-rushing defense forced the first of many Jamaican knock-ons, which was followed by a penalty. After some scrappy play in contact, Joanne Fa’avesi sucked in two defenders before passing to Griffin back inside. The hooker sliced through traffic for the centered try.

The next two scores were products of standard 7s play. Doyle looped Thomas and took advantage of a slow-reacting defense to sprint down the sideline; and Fa’avesi once again committed defenders in the middle of the field before passing out to Doyle for enough space to the try line, 24-0.

As the half wore down, Jamaica finally had an opportunity to run with the ball. As it worked wide, there was miscommunication between the center and wing, and the ball hit the deck. Griffin rushed on, kicked ahead twice, and fell on the ball in the try zone. Kelter ended play with an excellent sideline conversion, 31-0.

The second half began quickly, as Jamaica knocked on the kickoff, which rebounded right into Kelter’s grasp. The scrumhalf committed her defense and then sent a perfect leading skip pass to Thomas for the easy score, which Kelter converted, 38-0.

That try saw the clearing of the bench, and debutante Carmen Farmer joined recent Fallbrook high school graduate Richelle Stephen, who had been manning flyhalf for the entire game, on the pitch. Farmer took over at prop, and settled into the crashing phases that took hold inside Jamaica’s 22. Farmer put her head down, offloaded to Dana Meschisi who nearly crossed the line, and then took the finishing pass into the try zone. Kelter’s conversions made it 45-0.

The USA will look to improve to 2-0 against Barbados at 2:06 p.m. ET.

USA 45
Tries: Doyle 3, Griffin 2, Thomas, Farmer
Cons: Kelter 5

Jamaica 0