Eagles hold on to beat Australia and end losing streak

The USA ended an eight-game losing streak with a 16-14 win over Australia in Auckland on Saturday. Three penalties and a conversion from Gabby Cantorna pushed the Eagles to a 16-nil lead but two tries from the Wallaroos in the final quarter made for a nail-biting conclusion to the match.

A dominant scrum gave the USA the ascendency in the early going. They pressed deep into Australian territory but Emily Chancellor disrupted at the maul and won a turnover to escape the imminent danger. Another opportunity went begging when a rushed pass resulted in a knock-on.

The Wallaroos couldn’t escape their end, however, and eventually Kate Zackary called for a shot at goal from an offside penalty. Cantorna stepped up and slotted the three-pointer from just beyond the 22-meter line to open the scoring.

Chancellor found herself in trouble when she collapsed an attacking maul, and the flanker was sent to the sin bin. Elizabeth Cairns barged over the line but was held up. The Eagles were on advantage and Hope Rogers came within an inch of scoring. Rogers got back up and this time there was no stopping the prop with Cantorna tacking on the extras.

With time winding down in the half a huge touch-finder from Alev Kelter pinned the Wallaroos in their own end. The first lineout was stolen by Australia but the clearance was short and after a second throw-in a penalty gave Cantorna another chance for point. There was no mistake to leave the halftime score 13-nil to the USA.

After a stretch of parity to start the second half the Eagles won a penalty inside Australia’s half. Kelter attempted a long-range effort but pulled it just to the left of the upright. The Wallaroos couldn’t clear their lines and when another penalty was conceded, Cantorna chipped over her third penalty from in front of the sticks.

A brief hydration break gave Australia a chance to regroup. When play resumed an Arabella McKenzie kick from inside her half won an attacking throw-in. McKenzie’s angled run checked the defense, and her pass deflected off Tilleen Pomare into the hands of Georgina Friedrichs who grounded the ball. A TMO review decided the ball had not gone forwards and the try was awarded.

The USA’s buffer was further reduced from a lineout drive. Zackary broke up a first attempt, and when the second was slowed Ashley Marsters broke from the back and had the strength to reach the line herself. Lori Cramer nailed the conversion from wide out to make it a two-point game.

With two minutes to play the Wallaroos would find themselves with a lineout just inside the USA’s 22-meter line. The throw was accurate but Michaela Leonard couldn’t hang on to the ball and the Eagles would grind out the clock to secure the victory.

Friday night’s games will see Australia taking on Canada, while the USA square off against New Zealand.

 

SCORING

AUSTRALIA 14
Tries – G. Friedrichs (60′), A. Marsters (70′)
Cons – L. Cramer 2/2 (61′, 71′)
YC – E. Chancellor (33′)

USA 16
Tries – H. Rogers (35′)
Cons – G. Cantorna 1/1 (36′)
Pens – G. Cantorna 3/3 (27′, 40’+1′, 57′), A. Kelter 0/1

 

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA
1 Liz Patu (17 Madison Schuck 47′), 2 Ashley Marsters (16 Tiarna Molloy 73′), 3 Bridie O’Gorman (18 Eva Karpani 47′), 4 Michaela Leonard, 5 Kaitlan Leaney (19 Annabelle Codey 72′), 6 Emily Chancellor (20 Piper Duck 56′), 7 Shannon Perry (capt.), 8 Grace Hamilton, 9 Iliseva Batibasaga (21 Layne Morgan 56′), 10 Trilleen Pomare (22 Cecilia Smith 67′), 11 Jemima McCalman, 12 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (23 Arabella McKenzie 49′), 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Mahalia Murphy, 15 Lori Cramer

USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Maya Learned 56′), 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Nick James (18 Charli Jacoby 56′), 4 Jordan Matyas, 5 Hallie Taufo’ou (19 Kristine Sommer 68′), 6 Elizabeth Cairns (20 Kathryn Johnson 67′), 7 Rachel Johnson, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Bridget Kahele (21 Carly Waters 73′), 10 Gabby Cantorna (22 Megan Foster 73′), 11 Jennine Detiveaux, 12 Katana Howard, 13 Alev Kelter, 14 Lotte Clapp, 15 Bulou Mataitoga

Not used: 16 Kathryn Treder, 23 Tess Feury

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Assistants: Julianne Zussman (Canada) & Chris Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Lee Jeffrey (New Zealand)