USA Women’s U-20 National Team Lose First of its 3-Game Tour to South Africa

USA Women’s U-20 National Team Lose First of its 3-Game Tour to South Africa

from USA rugby

NELSPRUIT, South Africa – Despite trailing by just a one point deficit at halftime, the USA Under-20 Women’s National Team was defeated by the South Africa U-20, 23-7 in the opening game of its three-match South African Tour on Saturday, June 21.

In a cool partly-cloudy weather with no wind, the South Africans opened their account in the sixth minute with a try by winger Lindiwe Masole. Fly-half Zenay Jordaan failed to convert.

However, the Americans replied four minutes later with a try by flanker Katherine Johnson. Fly-half Lisa Hennenans conversion gave the visitors their maximum points for the afternoon.

The home side ended the first half with a lead in the 25th minute when Masole scored a penalty kick. The half-time score of the match at Nelspruit High School was 8-7.

In the second half, the Americans were subjected to further Masole punishment when she earned her team three points in the 48th minute, after a penalty against the visitors.

Two tries within three minutes sealed the fate of the Americans when centre Celeste April scored in the 52nd minute and full-back Aimee Barrett (captain) in the 55th. Masole failed to convert the former but was successful with the latter.

The U-20 Women are scheduled to play two additional games in Nelspruit, the capital of the South African province of Mpumalanga. The team meets another test against the South Africa Under-20 Women on June 28, and also has a match versus the Mpumalanga Senior Women on June 25.

For more information on the USA Women’s National Under-20s, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/Womens_U20.

The USA Under-20 Starting Lineup:
1 Rachel Sommer (West Linn, OR)
2 Brittany Woodard Hyde School, DC
3 Jay Marie Hill Stanford
4 Anneke Brand Texas Tech
5 Maggie Reidy Divine Savior Holy Angels, WI
6 Candace Barley Maryville, TN
7 Katie Johnson Hopkins, MN
8 Alex Hartley Brown
9 BriAnna Barto Summit, CO
10 Lisa Henneman (C) Seattle Women
11 Tyra McGrady Indiana
12 Marie Timm USMA
13 Catherine Turnerdrown Riverton,UT
14 Seymi Salami State College, PA
15 Sadie Anderson Fort Collins, CO

Reserves:
16 Joanna Kitlinski Grand Valley State
17 Tayo Mafe Michigan State
18 Mallory Ives Colorado State
19 Jozy Gesner Summit, CO
20 Catherine Parkhill Armstrong, MN
21 Kayla Morisoli San Jose State
22 Blaine Martin Brown

South Africa Under 20 team (courtesy of Women’s Rugby Review):

Onicca Ramaredi Moaga (Bulls), She-ull Naude (Bol), Jalean De Wee, (Bol), Cherne Roberts, (Bol), Portia Jonga (Bor), Zenay Jordaan (EP), Abongile Noxeke (EP), Geneve Scholtz (E), Matshidisa Bojozi (Fal), Michelle Kona (FS), Boipelo Nakanyane (FS), Belinda Etie (FS), Thakane Ntihafu (FS), Stompi Shabangu (Lions), Lindiwe Masole (Grif), Nomzano Ngcamu (KZN), Aimee Barrett (KZN), Zinhle Ndawonde (KZN), Monica Bulane (Leop), Allucia Mathebula (Pum), Claudia Davids (WP), Celeste April (WP).

The U19 Girls Rugby blog has a quick writeup of their 2 day trip to South Africa, I’m sure they will have more posts about the trip, so keep checking back!

**USA U-20 Women’s National Team Game 1 vs South Africa, go here.

**USA U-20 Women’s National Team Game 2 vs Developmental team, go here.

**USA U-20 Women’s National Team Game 3 vs South Africa, go here.

**Bryn Chivers gives an update on events, venues etc for upcoming U-20 WNT Events, go here.

Quick video of the MEN’S U-20 Match against South Africa a few weeks ago. Couldn’t find any videos or photos of the women’s match though.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.