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The Women’s Eagles have vaulted back into Semi-Final contention with a comprehensive 43-0 defeat of Spain at the UCD Bowl in Dublin on Sunday. Needing to get a bonus point win to stay in the hunt, they achieved everything they wanted with a big score against a team ranked higher than the Italian team they had troubles with in the opener.
Once again it was it was a powerhouse backline that gave Las Leonas fits in the wide channels. Naya Tapper swatted two defenders like flies en route to the opening score, rounding the corner to touch down for a seven-pointer. It was another unstoppable force with the second score, this time among the forwards as Jordan Gray followed up on Sara Parsons from a quick tap.
Spain dug their heels in, determined not to be embarrassed, and held out for almost 40 minutes. The Eagles lost Parsons to a yellow card but with the flanker returned and back at full strength it was Alev Kelter’s turn to show her determination, drawing in the entire Leonas backline before dishing to a wide open Cheta Emba for the easy finish.
Tapper turned up for her second soon after, running a hard line from a scrum and simply refusing to be tackled. Two defenders bounced off and she carried two more on her back, crashing in under the sticks with a little help from Kelter latched on.
A penalty try from a collapsed maul brought try number five and there was time for two more. Kelter dabbed a cheeky grubber in behind the defense for Jessica Javelet to score her first international XVs try. Hope Rogers had the final say after another thunderous run from Tapper took the Eagles 50 meters downfield and left the Leonas in complete disarray. Two quick recycles later and Rogers slid over the line for the grand finale.
With that the Eagles are two-for-two with the maximum 10 points in Pool B and a legitimate shot at reaching the final four. Their toughest match by some distance is up next, against defending champions England, and while a win would guarantee their advance it may not be necessary. As it stands they are the ‘best 2nd’ team and were they to conjure any bonus points against England it will make things very difficult for others to catch them. For now it’s job well done for the Eagles and a nervous wait for whatever comes on Thursday.
SCORING
USA 43
Tries – N. Tapper 2 (6’, 54’), J. Gray (12’), C. Emba (50’), Penalty try (61’), J. Javelet (77’), H. Rogers (80’)
Cons – A. Kelter 2 (7’, 55’, 80’)
Yellow cards – S. Parsons (39’)
SPAIN 0
TEAMS
USA
1 Catie Benson (17 Jamila Reinhardt 56’), 2 Sam Pankey (16 Katy Augustyn 75’), 3 Tiffany Faaee (capt.) (18 Hope Rogers 49’), 4 Stacey Bridges (20 Kristine Sommer 64’), 5 Abby Gustaitis (19 Alycia Washington 49’), 6 Sara Parsons, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Jordan Gray, 9 Deven Owsiany (21 Kayla Canett 73’), 10 Kimber Rozier, 11 Kristen Thomas (23 Jessica Javelet 56’), 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Nicole Heavirland, 14 Naya Tapper, 15 Cheta Emba (22 Sylvia Braaten 60’)
SPAIN
1 Isabel Rico (16 Saioa Jaurena 62’), 2 Aroa González (capt.) (17 Isabel Macias 70’), 3 Jeanina Vinueza (18 Laura Delgado 52’), 4 María Ribera, 5 Rocio García (20 Elena Redondo HT), 6 Diana Gasso (21 Carmen Pérez 73’), 7 Paula Medin (19 Berta García 52’), 8 Ángela Del Pan, 9 Anne Fernández de Corres, 10 Patricia García (22 Maria Ahis 70’), 11 Uri Barrutieta (23 Maria Casado 61’), 12 Marina Bravo, 13 Vanesa Rial, 14 Amaia Erbina, 15 Iera Echebarría
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
Assistants: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) & Beatrice Benvenuti (ITA)
TMO: David Grashoff (RFU)
