Canada overpowers USA in first u23 clash

Canada overpowered the USA at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, earning a 24-5 victory in the first match of their women’s under-23 series. A swarming defense and well-drilled forward pack proved the difference for the visitors who came within seconds of securing a shutout.

The USA turned down an early chance for points in favor of a scrum, but the Canadian defense stood strong and eventually earned a turnover. After a 17-minute stalemate Carmen Izyk broke down the left side on a counter-attack to put the American defense on the back foot. The ball was recycled quickly and a short pass from Mya Brubacher put Claire Gallagher in under the posts. Gallagher converted herself to make it a full seven.

A strong run from Freda Tafuna out of her own end came to nothing when a thumping tackle by Maggie Mackinnon on Eti Haungatau forced a turnover. Maggie Banks was quickest to react and on the next phase simple hands from Tylo Borsboom set up Savannah Bauder for a tidy finish in the corner. The kick from Gallagher was pulled wide right but the Canadians were up 12-nil.

Bauder was in for a double when Gallagher’s grubber eluded the USA defenders and bounced up perfectly for the Canadian fullback. A long weaving counter from Gallagher nearly saw the visitors scoring again but the home side held on and eventually cleared to touch with the halftime score 17-0 for the Maple Leafs.

The Americans were immediately under pressure in the second half and a late hit by Mona Tupou on Gallagher resulted in a yellow card to the USA lock. Canada pressed but couldn’t break through until the 65 minute mark when at long last Rachel Smith punched in between the posts for the fourth try.

A score finally came to the USA with under a minute left on the clock. Susan Adegoke broke free and tore down the sideline. She was stopped just short by a desperate tackle from Justine Blatt-Janmatt, but Lauren Ferridge was there in support to take the pop-pass off the deck over the line. The two teams will rematch at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.

 

SCORING

USA 5
Tries (1) – L. Ferridge (79′)
Cons (0) – K. Bitter 0/1
YC (1) – M. Tupou (49′)

CANADA 24
Tries (4) – C. Gallagher (18′), S. Bauder 2 (24′, 27′), R. Smith (65′)
Cons (2) – C. Gallagher 2/4 (19′, 66′)

 

TEAMS

USA u23
1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Queenette To’omalatai, 3 Mae Sagapolu (capt.), 4 Mona Tupou, 5 Malia Isaacs, 6 Freda Tafuna, 7 Tessa Hanns, 8 Kapiola Bailey, 9 Taina Tukuafu, 10 Kristin Bitter, 11 Susan Adegoke, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Leila Opeti, 14 Sereana Vulaono, 15 Alex Wantlin

Replacements: 16 Lauren Ferridge, 17 Reece Woods, 18 Olivia Woods, 19 Mikaela Hall, 20 Anna van Dyk, 21 Lewana Aspinall, 22 Autumn Lo Cicero, 23 Matalasi Morrissette, 24 Tiahna Padilla, 25 Alyssa Cunningham

CANADA u23
1 Zoe Williams, 2 Jordan McLeod, 3 Mya Brubacher, 4 Grace Anderson, 5 Julia Omokhuale, 6 Rachel Smith, 7 Lizzie Gibson, 8 Tylo Borsboom, 9 Corinne Fréchette, 10 Claire Gallagher (capt.), 11 Carmen Izyk, 12 Maggie Banks, 13 Maggie Mackinnon, 14 Maëlle Reed, 15 Savannah Bauder

Replacements: 16 Madison Jumeau, 17 Cécile Leclerc, 18 Rori Wood, 19 Emily Clark, 20 Siobhan Sheerin, 21 Justine Blatt-Janmatt, 22 Maddy Kushner, 23 Kendra Cousineau, 24 Laura Guay, 25 Natalie Armatage

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)