Late try lifts USA over Canada

A strong second half lifted the USA to a 20-18 win over Canada at the Women’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego on Wednesday evening. In near-identical fashion to England in the first game of the day, the Eagles recovered from an 18-8 deficit to score 12 unanswered points in the second half.

It didn’t take long for Canada’s forward pack to smash their way in for the first try, with Olivia DeMerchant driving over from short range. Alev Kelter stepped up to put three points on the board for the USA, but it was DeMerchant again who crossed to make it 12-5.

Sophie de Goede was on kicking duty for the visitors and she slotted her first penalty goal after a brief hydration break. The USA responded with an unconverted try via Emily Henrich, the midfielder showing her strength to score. A second penalty for de Goede restored the 10-point gap that carried to halftime.

Mistakes crept in for both teams early in the second half, and it wasn’t until the final quarter when more points would be scored. As Canadian legs tired in their last game of the tournament, Kelter found space and sliced through, sprinting clear from halfway and stepping past the final defender for a superb individual effort.

The winner came ten minutes later. With the USA the fresher side, Henrich snatched up a loose ball and made it inside the Canadian 22 meter line. Katana Howard spotted space and her kick to the corner bounced twice before Kristen Thomas arrived to touch down for the try.

Canada finish the tournament with a 1-3 record and now return home to recuperate after playing four tests in only 13 days. The USA earn their first win over Canada since 2015 and their first of the tournament. They close the series against France on Sunday.

 

SCORING

USA 20
Tries – E. Henrich (28’), A. Kelter (62’), K. Thomas (72’)
Cons – A. Kelter 1/3 (63’)
Pens – A. Kelter 1/1 (12’)

CANADA 18
Tries – O. DeMerchant 2 (4’, 16’)
Cons – S. de Goede 1/2 (5’)
Pens – S. de Goede 2/2 (22’, 32’)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Charli Jacoby, 4 Kristine Sommer, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Rachel Johnson, 7 Elizabeth Cairns, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Ashlee Byrge, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Jennine Duncan, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Kristen Thomas, 15 Alev Kelter

Replacements: 16 Hope Rogers, 17 Nick James, 18 Asinate Serevi, 19 Stacey Bridges, 20 Olivia Ortiz, 21 Amy Talei-Bonté, 22 Katana Howard, 23 Bulou Mataitoga

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Gillian Boag, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Sophie de Goede, 9 Lori Josephson, 10 Taylor Black, 11 Sabrina Poulin, 12 Amanda Thornborough, 13 Anaïs Holly, 14 Irene Patrinos, 15 Elissa Alarie (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Veronica Harrigan, 17 Maude Laliberté, 18 Ngalula Fuamba, 19 Jacey Grusnick, 20 Gabrielle Senft, 21 Brianna Miller, 22 Alex Tessier, 23 Paige Farries

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (NZRU)
Assistants: Amy Perrett (ARU) & Hayley Aguiar (USAR)