(from USA Rugby) – The Women’s Eagles Sevens finished seventh at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens – the first leg of the 2014-15 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series – with a narrow, 22-20, defeat of Russia Friday.

 

Russia was the victim of the Eagles’ first impressive victory in pool play Thursday before three consecutive defeats to New Zealand (twice) and England set up Friday’s rematch.

 

Russia struck first in the match’s opening minute. Marina Petrova recorded a hat trick of tries in her side’s loss to England earlier in the day and kicked off the scoring with a run that began in her own half. Alev Kelter could not bring down the tournament’s top scorer for an early, 5-0 deficit.

 

The Eagles committed a few too many penalties and could not recover their own lineout in Russia’s half in the fourth minute. Nadezda Kudinova capitalized on the opportunity to extend Russia’s lead to 10-0. Russia had changed its conversion kickers throughout the day and continued the trend in the seventh-place match.

 

The Eagles refused to go into the half scoreless and pushed to get on the scoreboard in the waning moments of the first period. Jessica Javelet could not find a way around the Russian defense inside the 22, but Kathryn Johnson did well to hold off a defender while waiting for the run of Hannah Lopez, who scored the Eagles’ first try.

 

Victoria Folayan suffered a match-ending injury prior to the scoring play and Eagles Head Coach Ric Suggitt inserted a number of substitutes to open the second half.

 

The fresh legs did not keep Russia from extending its lead, however, as Petrova deftly took a quick tap 10 meters from the try zone over the line. Another missed conversion kept the Eagles close at 15-5 with plenty of time to play.

 

Captain Kelly Griffin nearly broke three tackles in one go outside Russia’s uprights in the 11th minute but the ball eventually came out to Kelter, who dove over the line to make the score 15-12.

 

Joanne Fa’avesi gave the Eagles their first lead of the match a minute later following a quick tap five meters from the try line. A fourth try was set up by Johnson in the corner two minutes later and was finished by Javelet. The conversion was unsuccessful, giving Russia a final chance to tie the match down a converted try, 22-15.

 

Russia pushed down the field and drew a few penalties in the breakdown after time expired. Javelet was sent to the bin following repeated infractions in the ruck, and Petrova scored her second try of the match to set up the deciding conversion. It was unsuccessful, giving the Eagles the victory.

 

The Eagles gained eight standings points by finishing seventh. At the end of the six-leg Series, the top four teams will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games, the first Olympics to include Rugby Sevens on the Games Program. The next stop on the Series is set for the host nation of the 2016 Games in Sāo Paulo Feb. 7-8, 2015.