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The USA closed out their WXV campaign with a frustrating 26-14 defeat against Ireland in Vancouver on Friday. While the Eagles impressed in the first half to take the lead, a swathe of penalties and three yellow cards conceded in the second gave the Irish all they needed to turn the game around.
Early on it was the Eagles who applied pressure. After several carries from the forwards, Hope Rogers – celebrating her 50th cap – bashed over for the opening try. Ireland got their best opportunity when the USA were repeatedly caught offside. Erin King took advantage with a quick tap penalty just a few meters out from the line, crashing over to even the scores.
Again the USA went on the attack with Cheta Emba threatening on the right side. A penalty on the other side of the pitch saw Rogers going quick and breaking down the short side. Alev Kelter and Kate Zackary were in support, and it was Rogers who did the finishing on a short run from a ruck to grab a brace and give the Eagles a 14-7 halftime lead.
Chances for Ireland to equal came after USA penalties but the Eagles defense held out. Finally their discipline collapsed when Tahlia Brody disrupted a pass close to the line from an offside position. With nobody in position to prevent a certain score, the flanker was sent to the bin and the penalty try awarded with seven points going up on the board.
Before Brody could return Rachel Ehrecke saw yellow for a similar infringement, and from the resulting throw-in Cliodhna Moloney reached out of a maul to score the go-ahead try. Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crow put the result beyond doubt soon after, appearing on her opposite wing to touch down in the corner. In the background Rachel Johnson was dispatched for what was deemed a dangerous tackle, and the Eagles would finish the game with just 13 players on the pitch and no hope of ending on a high.
Both teams now turn their eye towards next year’s World Cup to be hosted by England. The draw is to be held on Thursday, October 17, with Ireland securing their place in the second band. A win of any kind for Italy against South Africa on Saturday would drop the USA to 9th place on the World Rankings and relegate them to the third band of the draw.
| SCORING |
USA 14
Tries (2) – H. Rogers 2 (18′, 40’+1′)
Cons (2) – M. Hawkins 2/2 (19′, 40’+2′)
YC (3) – T. Brody (63′), R. Ehrecke (71′), R. Johnson (76′)
IRELAND 26
Tries (4) – E. King (28′), Penalty try (63′), C. Moloney (72′), A. Murphy-Crowe (75′)
Cons (3) – N. Fowley 1/1 (29′), No kick (63′), D. O’Brien 1/2 (73′)
| TEAMS |
USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Maya Learned 69′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 53′), 3 Charli Jacoby (18 Mae Sagapolu HT), 4 Erica Jarrell (19 Rachel Ehrecke 65′), 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Tahlia Brody (20 Tessa Hann 73′), 7 Kate Zackary (capt.), 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Cassidy Bargell (21 Taina Tukuafu 66′), 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Gabby Cantorna (22 Emily Henrich 63′), 13 Alev Kelter, 14 Cheta Emba (23 Tess Feury 55′), 15 Bulou Mataitoga
IRELAND
1 Niamh O’Dowd (17 Siobhan McCarthy 63′), 2 Neve Jones (16 Cliodhna Moloney 60′), 3 Linda Djougang (18 Andrea Stock 74′), 4 Dorothy Wall, 5 Fiona Tuite (19 Ruth Campbell 74′), 6 Erin King (20 Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird 76′), 7 Aoife Wafer, 8 Brittany Hogan, 9 Emily Lane (21 Molly Scuffil-McCabe 60′), 10 Nicole Fowley (22 Dannah O’Brien HT), 11 Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, 12 Enya Breen (capt.), 13 Aoife Dalton, 14 Eimear Considine, 15 Stacey Flood (23 Eve Higgins 63′)
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, October 11
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver
Kickoff: 12:30 local
Weather: partly cloudy, 56°F (13°C), wind SW 3-5mph (5-8km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Assistants: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Emma Gallagher (Canada)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
