Scottish speed burns Eagles in Cape Town

Two tries from Scotland’s wingers contributed to 17 unanswered first half points and saw the USA falling 24-14 to their lower-ranked opponent in Cape Town on Friday. The pace of the Scottish backline caused major headaches and by the time the Eagles found the scoreboard it was too late.

Staunch defense held out an early advance by the Eagles, and when the ball was turned over the Scots quickly took advantage. An outside break by Emma Orr committed two defenders and left Francesca McGhie with a one-on-one against Bulou Mataitoga, which proved no contest as the Scottish winger left the American fullback for dead with a textbook inside-out shimmy.

The next few minutes were all Scotland. A 50-22 from Lisa Thomson won field position and soon after Emma Wassell squeezed over from short range. Next it was another classic winger’s try, this time Rhona Lloyd showing a clean pair of heels with a near-identical swerve against Gabby Cantorna after Rachel McLachlan had broken free. Lloyd nearly had a double on the end of a Mairi McDonald box kick but to the USA’s relief the ball went dead before the winger could ground it.

At last the Eagles earned some possession in Scottish territory and Freda Tafuna nearly scored after a charge-down of Helen Nelson’s clearance, but a TMO review determined the ball had been knocked on. The USA would finally get on the board moments before halftime when Charli Jacoby bashed over the line, converted by Cantorna.

A stalemate ensued until the hour mark. Evie Gallagher broke up the middle and though the ball was lost in contact, Scotland won a scrum penalty against the head. After several phases from a lineout quick hands from Jake Konkel and Orr put Chloe Rollie in space, the fullback stepping back inside to score the decisive try.

Not long after Tahlia Brody fended her way downfield but was stopped just inches short by desperate defense, and then Tess Feury was bundled into touch attempting to reach out for the corner. Scotland couldn’t quite escape their end and Paige Stathopoulos sped through a gap off the back of a maul with the conversion from Feury making it a 10-point game.

That would be it for the Eagles, however. Scotland pressed for a late try and Rollie nearly had it on a searing break in the midfield but a last-gasp tackle from Taina Tukuafu knocked the ball loose in-goal. The last minutes of the match ended with the USA pinned in their end.

Next Saturday will see the Eagles closing out their season against Italy at the same venue. The Italians have won each of their two matches, defeating Japan and South Africa in comfortable fashion. Scotland will play Japan on Friday.

 

SCORING

USA 14
Tries (2) – C. Jacoby (39′), P. Stathopoulos (66′)
Cons (2) – G. Cantorna 1/1 (40′), T. Feury 1/1 (67′)

SCOTLAND 24
Tries (4) – F. McGhie (11′), E. Wassell (15′), R. Lloyd (20′), C. Rollie (60′)
Cons (2) – H. Nelson 1/3 (16′), M. Smith 1/1 (61′)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Catie Benson (17 Mona Tupou 59′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 56′), 3 Charli Jacoby (18 Mae Sagapolu 51′), 4 Hallie Taufo’ou, 5 Erica Jarrell (19 Jenny Kronish 67′), 6 Freda Tafuna (20 Rachel Ehrecke 56′), 7 Tahlia Brody, 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Carly Waters (21 Taina Tukuafu 51′), 10 Gabby Cantorna (22 Katana Howard 51′), 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Mata Hingano, 13 Kate Zackary (capt.), 14 Tess Feury, 15 Bulou Mataitoga (23 Autumn Czaplicki 60′)

SCOTLAND
1 Leah Bartlett (17 Anne Young 70′), 2 Lana Skeldon (16 Elis Martin 79′), 3 Christine Belisle (18 Lisa Cockburn 69′), 4 Emma Wassell (19 Eva Donaldson 79′), 5 Louise McMillan (19 Eva Donaldson 33′-HT), 6 Rachel Malcolm (capt.), 7 Rachel McLachlan (20 Jake Konkel 51′), 8 Evie Gallagher, 9 Mairi McDonald (21 Caity Mattinson 51′), 10 Helen Nelson (22 Meryl Smith 51′-61′, 73′), 11 Francesca McGhie (23 Liz Musgrove 79′), 12 Lisa Thomson, 13 Emma Orr, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 15 Chloe Rollie

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistants: Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) & Zoë Naudé (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

 

Venue: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town