The Women's Junior All Americans (WJAAs) had something to prove today against the Canada U20s, looking to break the recent trend of losses to their northern neighbors. After taking a 19-5 lead in the first quarter, it appeared the hosts were well on their way, but Canada just needed some time to adjust and fought its way to a two-point deficit. It was a trying game, with fortunate breaks balancing some miscues, and the junior Eagles pushed through the final minute of the game for a 38-22 victory.

The first quarter was a flurry of action, as the USA got out to a 12-0 lead quickly. The opening kickoff didn’t go 10 meters, and so the USA took over with a midfield scrum. The ball went weak and wing Tess Feury tore deep into Canadian territory. The drive ended in a knock-on, but the All Americans stole the next two Canadian scrums to keep the ball in hand. The second one moved weakside to Nate Serevi and wing Ashley Byrge, and the outside center with the hometown crowd behind her scored in the corner, 5-0.

Serevi ended the game with three tries, but the Central Washington player was more than a finisher. She always planted her opposite, she dummied her way through the line, and was a calming influence on the pitch when the game became frenetic at points.

Fast off the line, Serevi forced a Canadian knock-on and later tore away to put her team in good position. A penalty kick to touch set up a lineout, which faltered in the air but was plucked out of the sky by lock Frieda Fetu’u. Fellow lock Jenny Johnson then made a great offload in contact to keep the ball moving across the defense, and Byrge was held up on the line. But the recycle went to Serevi and she had just enough room to dive over. Inside center McKenzie Hawkins slotted the extras for the 12-0 lead.

With the opening-minute jitters gone, Canada settled into form. The visitors were very capable of breaking the line, whether looping in the backline or slicing through off a hip-pass. The defense struggled to shut down the wide-open play, but was patient enough to see penalties and unforced errors kill Canada’s chances as the phases waged on. Byrge was also crucial in the cover defense.

A zig-zagging run put Canada near the USA’S 22, and the visitors would have quick-tapped through a penalty hadn’t Etta Mailau necessitated medical attention (she was replaced by Emily Prentice shortly afterward). But Canada made good on the opportunity, working a few tight runs for steady meters and eventual dive-over from flyhalf Jaelei Meyer, who also had three tries on the day.

Canada got another big break that ended in a knock-on. Flyhalf Gabby Cantorna sent a booming kick downfield, and Byrge chased it down to help set up the turnover deep in Canada’s end. Hawkins slipped through the defense to return her side to Canada’s 22. After a few possession changes, flanker Taylah Pipkin blocked an attempted clearing kick for a corner try that Hawkins converted, 19-5.

The second quarter was more even in terms of possession. Little knock-ons and breakdown penalties halted the best of both teams’ scoring chances, and with the wind disrupting some fluidity, neither side was eager to indulge the kicking game.

Canada’s scrum had settled down, but the visitors did give up two free kicks. The second saw captain Kyla Chipman and Cantorna cut down the field with some nice back-and-forth passing. The USA looked good to score, but fullback Danielle Ordway was pushed into touch at the one meter to the end the half.

If the penalty bug bit Canada in the first half, then it shifted attention to the USA in the second. Additionally, Canada returned to the pitch renewed, and immediately started finding seams around the breakdown. The forwards started stealing scrums and were quick to chase down breakaways for turnovers in the tackle. That change in momentum brought about frustration, which begets more penalties. Feury was eventually yellow carded for repeated team penalties at the breakdown, and that player advantage set up a try later in the game.

Canada’s first strike occurred immediately, as a Meyer linebreak brought play into the USA’s end. Then Canada’s scrum stole the USA’s put-in and a few phases put the Canadian flyhalf into the try zone again. Captain Katie Svoboda, who was tough to drag down all day, kicked the conversion, 19-12.

With the wind now at her back, Meyer relieved some pressure with a long kick that trickled out of bounds at the USA 15 meter. The All Americans tried to run it out of their end but were penalized after a few phases. Another penalty followed, and a quick restart and a few passes put wing Petra Woods into the try zone, 19-17.

The Americans showed some vulnerability after a good scoring chance turned into a clearance kick, which was then turned over in the tackle; a Canada penalty that didn’t go to touch was bobbled and returned to the visitors; and an egregious breakdown penalty was fortunately not called a yellow card. If it wasn’t for a water break at the 60-minute mark, the WJAAs could have let the game go right here.

But some fresh legs took the field and they regrouped against a side that was growing in confidence. Canada stole a scrum but No. 8 Chipman picked off the offload to nullify that mistake. Hawkins drove the ball downfield while ballcarriers did well to keep play moving. The ball rebounded across the pitch to Feury, who pinned her last defender perfectly to set up Ordway for the finishing leg of the try, which Hawkins converted, 26-17.

The battle wasn’t won, as the USA still coughed up breakdown penalties and Feury was sin binned. That opened up enough space for Canada’s attack, and the USA defense didn’t shift quick enough to prevent Meyers from her third try, 26-22.

But despite the rollercoaster of creating opportunities and then losing them, the USA ran in two more tries. The penultimate came after Meyers cleared from her tryline and replacement wing CJ Whiteside returned it nicely and drew a high-tackle penalty. The lineout ball worked out to Serevi, who, with no options, dummied around her opposite for the 40-meter try. Hawkins converted for the 10-point cushion, 33-22.

Replacement wing Leti Hingano made good use of her few minutes on the pitch, disrupting the restart and linking up with Whiteside on a sideline-burning run. As the pair kept the ball alive between the two of them, the Danville high schooler barreled through the remaining defenders for the game-ending try, 38-22.

This game delved into the character of the squad, and players showed a lot of grit. The WJAAs will have a chance to further express themselves on Saturday, Aug. 22 for game two of the Can-Am Series.

USA 38
Tries: Serevi 3, Pipkin, Ordway, Hingano
Cons: Hawkins 4

Canada 22
Tries: Meyer 3, Woods
Cons: Svoboda