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Brazil and the USA competed to a 15-15 draw in São Paulo on Saturday. Played at the Estádio Nicolau Alayon there was nothing to separate the teams on full-time. Both teams scored two tries. The USA Women’s side was under 23 rather than an official capped line-up.
The USA u23 opened the scoring. Fly half Kristin Bitter. slotted an early penalty. In a highly unorthodox manner, prop Patrícia Lima hit-back with a penalty for Brazil.
The USA u23 recovered and had the better start to the match. It was again Bitter who troubled the scorers. She was the first women to down the ball in the try zone and added the extra two points herself.
The USA u23 were 10-3 ahead at half-time. Brazil’s response came in the second-half. Second-rower Ana Carolina Santana crossed and Edna Santini converted to make it 10-10.
The USA regathered to respond with a try of their own. Flanker Freda Tafuna put the USA u23 five points clear. It was the final score for the North Americans. The missed conversion would turn out to be crucial.
As Yaras fought hard. Never giving up the Brazilians drew level in the final minute of play. Lima barged over to bring the scores to 15-15. It gave Edna Santini an opportunity to win the match. Her conversion was unsuccessful as the match clock had reached its conclusion.
The match was Brazil’s first ever home match at the senior level. The fixture was the opening match in the Americas Rugby Trophy. The tournament is also the first ever Women’s Rugby XV competition to take place in the largest Latin American country. The Americas Rugby Trophy includes Brazil, USA u23 and Colombia.
The competition will continue on Wednesday, June 07. Colombia will play their opening match, taking on the USA u23 at Mogi das Cruzes in Greater São Paulo. Brazil’s second, and final, match will be far away. Brazil play host to Colombia at the Estádio Presidente Eurico Gaspar Dutra in the Brazil’s Mid-West on Sunday, June 11.
SCORING
BRAZIL (15)
Try – AC Santana (1); P Lima (1)
Con – E Santini (1)
Pen – P Lima (1)
USA U23 (15)
Try – K Bitter (1); F Tafuna (1)
Con – K Bitter (1)
Pen – K Bitter (1)
TEAMS
BRAZIL
1 Tais Gomes, 2 Tainá Amorim, 3 Patricia Lima, 4 Ana Carolina Santana, 5 Sofia Marques, 6 Natália Momberg, 7 Letícia Medeiros, 8 Íris Coluna (Capt.), 9 Aline Mayumi, 10 Raíssa Andraus, 11 Ariely Faria, 12 Amanda Araújo, 13 Edna Santini, 14 Lohana Valente, 15 Ana Júlia Dias
Repalcements: 16 Júlia Leni, 17 Giovana “Gi Lomu” Mamede, 18 Camila Gonçalves, 19 Bárbara Leal, 20 Dayana Dakar, 21 Grasiele Bomfim”, 22 Patrícia Bodeman, 23 Tamires Costa
USA M23
1 Lauren Ferridge 2 Queenette Toomalatai 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu (C) 4 Mona Lisa Tupou 5 Emerson Allen 6 Freda Tafuna 7 Tessa Hann 8 Kapoina Bailey 9 Taina Tukuafu 10 Kristin Bitter 11 Susan Adegoke 12 Tiahna Padilla 13 Emily Henrich 14 Sereana Vulaono 15 Alexandra Wantlin.
Replacements: 16 Alivia Leatherman 17 Reece Woods 18 Olivia Woods 19 Abbey Jacobs 20 Anna Van Dyk 21 Samantha Brackett 22 Alyssa Cunningham 23 Autumn LoCicero
