Eagles pass Samoa test to open WXV account

The USA overcame a passionate challenge from Samoa to open their WXV account with a 36-26 victory in Stellenbosch on Saturday. Though entering eight spots below the Eagles in 15th place, the Manusina held the lead until just before halftime and were the better side in the final quarter.

Indeed it was Samoa who scored first through winger Linda Fiafia after the USA were caught running out of their own end and coughed up the ball in contact. Lotte Clapp fired back for the Eagles thanks to some quick hands from Gabby Cantorna on the short side of a ruck.

A yellow card to Lulu Leuta gave an advantage to the Eagles and soon after Mata Hingano punched over for a try on debut. Samoa grabbed the lead back, however, when fullback Karla Wright-Akeli sped through a gap to touch down under the posts.

The two-point lead held until the final play of the half. Hingano punched through the middle inside her own half and made it inside Samoa’s 22-meter line, offloading from a last-gasp tackle to Hallie Taufo’ou in support for a spectacular try.

Tess Feury went looking for work on the opposite side of the pitch and was rewarded with a runaway try just seconds into the second half. The Eagles pulled away with Hingano again the creator of a try for midfield partner and captain Kate Zackary, before a rampaging Rachel Johnson crashed over on the end of a 20-meter run from the back of a scrum.

Despite staring at a 22-point deficit the Manusina refused to go quietly. Avau Filimaua bashed in from short range, and then Wright-Akeli touched down in the corner for her double. It was too little, too late, but Samoa will be pleased with their effort against the heavily-favored Eagles.

The series continues on Friday when the USA takes on 9th-ranked Scotland. For Samoa it’s 10th-ranked Japan on Saturday. Japan were defeated 28-15 by 8th-ranked Italy on Friday with the Scots taking a 31-17 win over 12th-ranked hosts South Africa.

 

SCORING

USA 36
Tries (6) – L. Clapp (14′), M. Hingano (20′), H. Taufo’ou (40’+1′), T. Feury (41′), K. Zackary (50′), R. Johnson (57′)
Cons (3) – G. Cantorna 3/6 (21′, 42′, 51′)

SAMOA 26
Tries (4) – L. Fiafia (7′), K. Wright-Akeli 2 (32′, 73′), A. Filimaua (66′)
Cons (3) – C. Siataga 2/2 (8′, 33′), B. Milo 1/2 (67′)
YC (1) – L. Leuta (16′)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Catie Benson (17 Mona Tupou 53′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 53′), 3 Charli Jacoby (18 Mae Sagapolu 44′), 4 Hallie Taufo’ou, 5 Erica Jarrell (19 Jenny Kronish 72′), 6 Freda Tafuna (20 Rachel Ehrecke 62′), 7 Tahlia Brody, 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Carly Waters (21 Taina Tukuafu 53′), 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Mata Hingano (22 Meya Bizer 60′ {23 Emily Henrich 68′}), 13 Kate Zackary (capt.), 14 Tess Feury, 15 Bulou Mataitoga

SAMOA
1 Ana Mamea (18 Maletina Brown 63′), 2 Lulu Leuta (Sosoli Talawadua 42′), 3 Rereglory Aiono (17 Avau Filimaua 47′), 4 Olalini Tafoulua (20 Ti Tauasosi 77′), 5 Easter Savelio, 6 Sinead Ryder, 7 Sui Pauaraisa (capt.), 8 Nina Foaese, 9 Bella Milo, 10 Cassie Siataga, 11 Allison Futialo (23 Michelle Curry 52′), 12 Utu Atonio, 13 Hope Schuster (22 Hasting Leiataua 52′), 14 Linda Fiafia, 15 Karla Wright-Akeli

Not used: 19 Fa’alua Tugaga, 21 Fogamanono Tusiga

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assistants: Holly Wood (England) & Zoë Naudé (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

 

Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch