Canada blows past USA to sweep u23 series

Canada made it a clean sweep in their women’s under-23 series against the USA at Veterans Memorial Satadium in Quincy on Sunday afternoon. Another dominant display from their forward pack set the stage for a convincing 55-14 victory, contributing to a 24-5 score on aggregate in the ‘Border Battle’.

As with the first match there was a feeling out process in the opening minutes. A turnover from Lizzie Gibson just inside Canada’s half set up the first score. Julia Omokhuale set off on a 40-meter gallop and fed Laura Guay to her inside, with the final pass sending Savannah Bauder in under the posts. Claire Gallagher chipped over the extras to make it seven points.

It didn’t take long for the Americans to produce a response. Kristin Bitter slipped through a half-gap to make ground, and after winning a penalty the USA opted for a scrum. On second phase the ball was spun wide to a waiting Susan Adegoke, who stepped past one defender and offloaded to Eti Haungatau in support for the try. The conversion from wide out was good from Kristin Bitter to even the scores.

After a brief hydration break the Canadians came out breathing fire. Zoë Williams barged in from close range, converted by Bauder. Next it was Carmen Izyk finding the corner, with Bauder bouncing the ball over off the upright. Williams bagged a brace in similar fashion to her first, and then Tylo Borsboom broke from an attacking scrum to score the fifth try and leave it 33-7 to the visitors at the intermission.

Izyk broke free to score a superb individual effort early in the second half. Another try almost came when Omokhuale was held up in-goal. The pressure from the Canadians only increased and finally they got their reward as Gallagher followed up a Corinne Fréchette break to slice in for try number seven.

Fréchette found an unguarded edge of a ruck and stepped on the gas to race home untouched from halfway and bring up the half-century. A few minutes alter the scrumhalf chipped over the top for Maëlle Reed to touch down. Team infringements resulted in a yellow card to Siobhan Sheerin, and Mona Tupou crashed over for a consolation try after a rare period of sustained possession for the Americans.

 

SCORING

USA 14
Tries (2) – E. Haunagatau (18′), M. Tupou (75′)
Cons (2) – K. Bitter 2/2 (19′, 76′)

CANADA 55
Tries (9) – S. Bauder (13′), Zoe Williams 2 (21′, 30′), C. Izyk 2 (26′, 42′), T. Borsboom (37′), C. Gallagher (58′), C. Fréchette (63′), M. Reed (68′)
Cons (5) – C. Gallagher 1/1 (14′), S. Bauder 4/8 (22′, 27′, 31′, 59′)
YC (1) – S. Sheerin (74′)

 

TEAMS

USA u23
1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Lauren Ferridge, 3 Mae Sagapolu (capt.), 4 Mona Tupou, 5 Anna van Dyk, 6 Brooklyn Vaifanua, 7 Sam Brackett, 8 Kapiola Bailey, 9 Taina Tukuafu, 10 Kristin Bitter, 11 Susan Adegoke, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Tiahna Padilla, 14 Leila Opeti, 15 Alyssa Cunningham

Replacements: 16 Mikaela Hill, 17 Reece Woods, 18 Olivia Woods, 19 Tua Tanupo, 20 Nikki Lynch, 21 Lennox London, 22 Autumn Lo Cicero, 23 Matalasi Morrissette, 24 Natalie Bjorklund, 25 Keisha Durden

CANADA u23
1 Zoë Williams, 2 Jordan McLeod, 3 Mya Brubacher, 4 Rori Wood, 5 Rachel Smith, 6 Julia Omokhuale, 7 Lizzie Gibson, 8 Tylo Borsboom, 9 Justine Blatt-Janmatt, 10 Claire Gallagher (capt.), 11 Carmen Izyk, 12 Maddy Kushner, 13 Maggie Mackinnon, 14 Laura Guay, 15 Savannah Bauder

Replacements: 16 Madison Jumeau, 17 Brianna Martey, 18 Katie McLeod, 19 Emily Clark, 20 Siobhan Sheerin, 21 Kennedy Feasby, 22 Corinne Fréchette, 23 Kendra Cousineau, 24 Natalie Armatage, 25 Maëlle Reed

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)