Brilliant Second Half Sees USA U20 Women Past Canada
Brilliant Second Half Sees USA U20 Women Past Canada
Playing an entertaining and wide open brand of rugby, the USA U20 women defeated Canada's U20s 40-24 Saturday in Ottawa.
Played at the same stadium where the Pacific Four senior women's games will be played, this game provided some fireworks from both sides, and was anyone's game until late in the second half.
Canada looked to play wide and use turnovers to cause the USA trouble. The Canadians were very quick over the ball and when the Americans weren't careful with their work on the ground or clearing out, Canada created chances.
In addition, outside center and Saskatchewan native Carissa Norsten was outstanding—whether on attack or playing defense Norsten was hugely effective. But Canada's connections were sometimes a bit slow and the USA defense took advantage.
Quick Start USA
The Canadians started on the front foot after a long break from Norsten. However the USA defense held, just, and then they broke out. USA flyhalf Alissa Eisenhart couldn't handle the pass designed to set her up for a clearance kick. The ball went backward, however, and Eisenhart, regathered, and cut through a gap left by the overpursuing Canadians. She made a cut and cruised out close to midfield on a somewhat improbably run. Norsten flattened the USA #10 but the Americans were now on the front foot. Eventually the ball was sent to wing Sereana Vulaono and she put on a burst of speed and was gone to score from 50 meters.
As she had all tour, Eisenhart added the extras and it was 7-0 USA.
Conscious that the USA had been able to make big breaks off restarts, Canada kicked deep and into space. That allowed them to once again threaten the USA line, and once again the Americans got out of trouble—this time prop Kambria Hartrick stole the ball in the rugby and charged ahead. Her effort was backed up by her teammates, and then a kick from fullback Ashley Cowdrey was knocked on and the USA had another chance. From that scrum they spun it wide quickly, and while they ended up in touch, the USA kept looking to go wide. A long pass set up Cowdrey to cut through and then Tiahna Padilla cut back to score near the posts for a brilliant team try. Eisenhart kicked the conversion and it was 14-0.
Canada Strikes Back
Then it seemed like Canada turned a switch and the USA kind of let off. A kick to wing Victoria Stanley for Canada saw her cut into the middle of the field looking to make a pass. Everyone marked her support so Stanley kept going and blasted through to score almost untouched. That made it 14-7. Not that long after, a disorganized defense left a gap that allowed Norsten to slice through and race in for a try. The kick was no good but now it was 17-12. USA penalties and missed tackles—and certainly some impatience—helped put Canada in scoring position again and they was over just before halftime to take a 17-14 lead.
It was a sobering lesson for the USA about waiting for the turnover rather than trying to force it at every tackle. Too many USA penalties had put them behind.
Torrid Second Half for USA
But they fixed that relatively quickly. In fact it was Canada that was guilty of giving up penalties and the Junior Eagles used that to set up a maul. That maul was collapsed, and at the next one Canada was offside. Perhaps another lineout-and-maul was there to use but the USA opted instead for a tape penalty move and a surge from AJ Haughey allowed the forwards to back her up to get it over. Eisenhart converted and the Americans were back in the lead—a lead they would not relinquish. A restart error set up the USA to attack soon thereafter and an excellent break from Vulaono almost produced a try. Canada held on, but after Cowdrey (now playing scrumhalf) charged down a kick the Americans took a scrum five meters out and Haughey was able to take it over.
Eisenhart proved she was human by missing the conversion, but the lead was now two scored at 26-17.
Canada's restart was no 10 meters and so back came the Junior Eagles. Vulaono cut through and fed Padilla, who was almost over. She was dragged down short of the line and while eventually the Americans were held up, they kept up the pressure. Finally the forwards crashed over, with lock Cindy Taulava scoring. Eisenhart was back on target and now it was 33-17.
And then the try of the day, or, really, any day. The USA received the restart and the ball was sent out to prop Akilah Cathey, on as a reserve. Big and powerful, Cathey also can run—boy can she run. She blasted through a couple of tacklers, outpaced several backs, and then split the final two cover defenders (who were not thrilled about having to try to stop her). When all was said and done Cathey, a product of the excellent Memphis Inner-City Rugby program and now a sophomore at Brown, had left everyone in her wake and scored from 68 meters out. It was astonishing. Eisenhart converted to make it 40-17.
Canada ended with Norsten blazing her own trail for her second try, but the USA had control by then.
Many Standouts
Overall it was a fairly typical age-grade national team game in that some connections didn't quite come together, but when they did they allowed the players' talent and athleticism to sing. Cowdrey was exceptional at both fullback and scrumhalf. Flanker Lennox London got a ton of work done and made some key tackles. Hartrick was excellent, making steals, bulling through for some key meters, and causing turnovers. Several backs had excellent moments, but clearly Padilla and Vulaono were special.
And Eisenhart was defensively sound, generous in setting up her teammates, a threat to run, and brilliant from the tee. Over the two games the West Point flyhalf and product of the Morris Rugby program, was 9-for-10 on conversions. The USA's opposition was 3-for-9, giving one example of her value.
The USA returns home having won this three-team series with a 28-27 victory over Wales and a 40-24 victory over Canada.
USA 40
Tries: Volaono, Padilla, Forwards, Haughey, Taulava, Cathey
Convs: Eisenhart 5
Canada 24
Tries: Norsten 2, Stanley, Other
Convs: Atkins, Maye