USA draws with Japan in first tour match

A late penalty goal salvaged a 17-17 draw for the USA against Japan in Kitakyushu on Sunday. The home side outscored their guests three tries to two but the boot of McKenzie Hawkins saved the Eagles from defeat in the first match of the USA’s two-test tour.

Played in hot and humid conditions, handling proved difficult at times. Japan opted for a tactical approach early and a long kick ran too far. A mistake on the drop-out, however, handed over an attacking lineout and Wako Kitano would get the credit for the try from the driving maul. Ayasa Otsuka added the extras to make it a full seven.

Kathryn Treder looked to have replied for the Americans after breaking from a maul but a TMO review wiped the points off the board for obstruction. At the half-hour mark they would get their try, this time on a short run from Olivia Ortiz after several phases on attack. Hawkins converted to draw the scores level.

A frantic end to the half saw both teams scoring. Replacement center Kanako Kobayashi crossed out wide after Japan had earned a turnover in a counter-ruck. Summer Harris-Jones equaled the effort to score in the corner after a lineout drive had drawn in the defense. Hawkins again found her target to give the Eagles a 14-12 lead at the intermission.

Japan’s strength at the set piece yielded another score early in the second half with Masami Kawamura this time securing the grounding, but the missed conversion left the door open for Hawkins. After a long stalemate the Eagles pushed into attacking territory with Japan eventually conceding a penalty. The vice-captain took the three points and time would expire before either side could find a winning score.

Three players made their test debuts for the Eagles, all second half replacements. Second row Emerson Allen and winger Sariah Ibarra were joined by scrumhalf Sophie Pyrz. The two teams will rematch in Shizuoka next Saturday.

 

SCORING

JAPAN 17
Tries (3) – W. Kitano (12′), K. Kobayashi (36′), M. Kawamura (46′)
Cons (1) – A. Otsuka 1/3 (13′)

USA 17
Tries (2) – O. Ortiz (31′), S. Harris-Jones (40′)
Cons (2) – M. Hawkins 2/2 (32′, 40’+1′)
Pens (1) – M. Hawkins 1/1 (78′)

TEAMS

JAPAN
1 Manami Mine (16 Hinata Komaki 56′), 2 Kotomi Taniguchi (17 Asuka Kuge 47′), 3 Wako Kitano (18 Nijiho Nagata 64′), 4 Yuna Sato, 5 Otoka Yoshimura (19 Sakurako Korai 47′), 6 Masami Kawamura, 7 Iroha Nagata (capt.), 8 Ayano Nakai (20 Seina Saito 47′), 9 Moe Tsukui (21 Megumi Abe 70′), 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 12 Mana Futura, 13 Sakurako Hatada (22 Kanako Kobayashi 7′), 14 Misaki Matsumura, 15 Sora Nishimura

Not used: 23 Minoru Yamamoto

USA
1 Alivia Leatherman (17 Catie Benson HT), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 68′), 3 Charli Jacoby (18 Maya Learned 45′), 4 Erica Jarrell (19 Emerson Allen 56′), 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Rachel Ehrecke, 7 Tahlia Brody, 8 Freda Tafuna (20 Mae Sagapolu 68′), 9 Olivia Ortiz (21 Sophie Pyrz 64′), 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Summer Harris-Jones (23 Sariah Ibarra 56′), 12 Gabby Cantorna (22 Katana Howard 64′), 13 Mata Hingano, 14 Emily Henrich, 15 Tess Feury (capt.)

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, August 11
Venue: Mikuni Stadium, Kitakyushu
Kickoff: 18:00 local
Weather: sunny, 88°F (31°C), wind N 13mph (21 km/h)

OFFICIALS

Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistants: Jessica Ling (Australia) & Ano Kuwai (Japan)
TMO: Oli Kellett (Australia)