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Australia put their hiding at the hands of New Zealand behind them with a dominant 58-17 win over the USA in their Pacific Four clash on Saturday. Played at the neutral venue of Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium, the Wallaroos were in control from start to finish and outscored the North Americans nine tries to three.
The opening minutes saw the Eagles push into Australian territory but they couldn’t put points on the board. A turnover put the Wallaroos into position and their rolling maul did the rest, with Grace Hamilton on the back to get the credit. The pack did it again soon after with imposing prop Eva Karpani the one to muscle over this time.
A response came at the half-hour mark when Evi Ashenbrucker wrestled in from close range, but before the halftime whistle came Australia would strike three times. Karpani thundered in under the posts for her double followed by a try from fellow front rower Adiana Talakai. Cecilia Smith chipped over a penalty goal to go with two conversions and it was 27-5 at the intermission.
Maya Stewart was first to strike in the second half, but it was matched her opposite as Jennine Detiveaux replied for the Eagles. McKenzie Hawkins landed the extras before Australia exploded with three tries in just seven minutes. Ivania Wong finished the first before Stewart grabbed a double on an end-to-end run off a turnover. Georgina Friedrichs was next to find the line with Smith adding another two conversions to breach the half-century.
The final minutes would see Detiveaux racing clear for her double to make it 17 points for the USA. Stewart would have the final say, however, with another runaway try down the sidelines for her hat trick. Smith tacked on the extras for good measure.
With only one round left to play the result all but guarantees that the USA will finish at the bottom of the ladder, which relegates them to the second tier of the year-end WXV tournament. Australia are now set to play in the top tier of the new competition. Next Friday will see the Eagles taking on the World Cup champion Black Ferns while the Wallaroos take on hosts Canada.
SCORING
USA 17
Tries (3) – E. Ashenbrucker (30′), J. Detiveaux 2 (49′, 71′)
Cons (1) – M. Hawkins 1/3 (50′)
AUSTRALIA 58
Tries (9) – G. Hamilton (14′), E. Karpani 2 (21′, 34′), A. Talakai (38′), M. Stewart 3 (47′, 58′, 76′), I. Wong (55′), G. Friedrichs (62′)
Cons (5) – C. Smith 5/9 (15′, 35′, 48′, 56′, 77′)
Pens (1) – C. Smith 1/1 (40’+2′)
TEAMS
USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Evi Ashenbrucker, 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Freda Tafuna, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Taina Tukuafu, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Kate Zackary (capt.), 14 Jennine Detiveaux, 15 Tess Feury
Replacements: 16 Jett Hayward, 17 Charli Jacoby, 18 Mona Tupou, 19 Rachel Ehrecke, 20 Tahlia Brody, 21 Carly Waters, 22 Joanne Fa’avesi, 23 Meya Bizer
AUSTRALIA
1 Bree-Anna Cheatham, 2 Adiana Talakai, 3 Eva Karpani, 4 Michaela Leonard (capt.), 5 Kaitlan Leaney, 6 Ashley Marsters, 7 Emily Chancellor, 8 Grace Hamilton, 9 Layne Morgan, 10 Arabella McKenzie, 11 Ivania Wong, 12 Cecilia Smith, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Maya Stewart, 15 Lori Cramer
Replacements: 16 Tania Naden, 17 Emily Robinson, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Sera Naiqama, 20 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 21 Jasmin Huriwai, 22 Trilleen Pomare, 23 Alana Elisaia
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Julianne Zussman (Canada)
Assistants: Shanda Assmus (Canada) & Kristine Lovatt (Canada)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (Canada)
