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The Women’s Eagles started their 2024 season with a dominant 38-17 victory over South Africa on Saturday. Played at a neutral venue in London, a hat-trick from openside flanker Georgie Perris-Redding led the away as the USA opened Sione Fukofuka’s tenure as Head Coach in style.
It was a nightmare start for the Springbok Women. Jakkie Cilliers knocked-on the opening kickoff after losing the ball in the sun. Perris-Redding was quickest to react and it was a straight run down the line for a score just seconds in. Gabby Cantorna nailed the conversion from wide out to make it a full seven.
The South Africans quickly put the error behind them. Their scrum was dominant, earning two penalties in the first quarter, but under considerable pressure the Eagles defense held firm.
At the other end Olivia Ortiz slipped through a gap on the post to get in behind the South African line. The ball was recycled quickly and straight hands put Kate Zackary into space. After committing two defenders, the captain offloaded to Kathryn Treder in support for the USA’s second try.
Just before halftime the Springboks got some wind in their sails and nearly pushed over the line from a driving maul. They won another penalty and again opted to attack from the lineout, but this time the throw-in wasn’t straight and the Eagles cleared to leave the score 14-nil at halftime.
Early in the second half it was another break from Perris-Redding, this time from a ruck, and there was no defense in sight to stop her from grabbing a double. South Africa responded quickly through their forwards as a driving maul was at last successful, with Lindelwa Gwala getting credit for the score.
The USA fired back with two tries. Ortiz was in on the act again with a quick tap at a penalty. McKenzie Hawkins then sent a grubber into the corner that eluded the hands of Cilliers and gave Emily Henrich a gift of five points. Hawkins used her boot to good effect soon after with a cross-kick into space that bounced up perfectly for Lotte Clapp to run onto for the finish.
Byrhandre Dolf sliced through not long after the hour mark after Aseza Hele had made inroads from the back of a scrum. Perris-Redding then claimed her hat-trick in the middle of a lineout drive, with the final say going to Hele herself as she barged over from the back of an attacking scrum.
The Eagles now return to their club sides before reconvening at the end of April for their Pacific Four opener against Canada on April 28. South Africa’s European tour comes to a close with one test win over Spain and training sessions with Scotland and Wales preceding their defeat to the USA.
| SCORING |
USA 38
Tries (6) – G. Perris-Redding 3 (1′, 43′, 72′), K. Treder (31′), E. Henrich (49′), L. Clapp (57′)
Cons (4) – G. Cantorna 4/6 (2′, 32′, 44′, 58′)
SOUTH AFRICA 17
Tries (3) – L. Gwala (46′), B. Dolf (65′), A. Hele (79′)
Cons (1) – J. Cilliers 0/1, M. Zulu 1/2 (66′)
| LINEUPS |
USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Catie Benson 63′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 63′), 3 Mae Sagapolu (18 Charli Jacoby 54′), 4 Erica Jarrell, 5 Jenny Kronish (19 Rachel Ehrecke 50′), 6 Kate Zackary (capt.) (20 Tahlia Brody 60′), 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Olivia Ortiz (21 Cassidy Bargell 60′), 10 McKenzie Hawkins (22 Katana Howard 58′), 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Emily Henrich (23 Amanda Berta 66′), 15 Tess Feury
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo (17 Sanelisiwe Charlie 42′), 2 Lindelwa Gwala (16 Roseline Botes 58′), 3 Babalwa Latsha (18 Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen 73′), 4 Nolusindiso Booi (capt.) (20 Nomsa Mokwai 58′), 5 Vainah Ubisi, 6 Danelle Lochner, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa (19 Anathi Qolo 73′), 8 Aseza Hele, 9 Tayla Kinsey (21 Rumandi Potgieter 47′), 10 Mary Zulu, 11 Jakkie Cilliers (23 Chuma Qawe 58′), 12 Piwokuhle Nyanda (22 Aphiwe Ngwevu 47′), 13 Veroeskha Grain, 14 Asiphe Mayaba, 15 Byrhandre Dolf
| MATCH DETAILS |
Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: Trailfinders Sports Ground, London
Kickoff: 13:00 local (06:00 Pacific, 09:00 Eastern)
Weather: sunny, 61°F (16°C), wind S 6-9mph (10-14 km/h)
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Holly Wood (England)
Assistants: Hamish Grant (England) & Simon Park (England)
TMO: n/a
| VIDEO |
