USA Rugby U20s @ Nations Cup – Game Notes USA vs Wales

Another great update from Bryn the head coach via the U19 Women’s Rugby blog:

Thursday July 9th

Let’s start at the end…….We beat Wales 7-3

It was a great day for the team. Had the bacon, sausage, egg, baked beans and tomato breakfast and it was very tasty. Found out that Adele who is the head cook at Stoke Mandeville took the players laundry home and did it in her own washer and dryer as we were having problems with the ones at the dorms. What a sweetheart! That lady will certainly get a tour t-shirt. Went out to Halton for the Jersey Ceremony and a walk through of the game plan. Lunch then off to Brunel for the game against Wales…..see following report. After match meal was a great opportunity for the players to socialize with the Welsh players. here is a snippet of video of the players right after the win…….emotional as eight of them were on the squad that lost by a point to Wales in 2007.

Under 20s Nations Cup Schedule:

from USA Rugby:

BOULDER, Colo. – The USA Women’s Under-20 Team beat Wales 7-3 today to win the opening game of the Women’s U-20 Nations Cup.

The USA started the game on its back foot as it struggled with the passion of its Welsh counterpart, but the young Eagles weathered several attacks by Wales before giving up a penalty in their own 22 that resulted in the U.S. Team trailing by three after 10 minutes.

After settling into the game shortly thereafter, the USA U-20s began to create opportunities of their own and almost leveled the game at 23 minutes with a penalty attempt of their own. Cat Parkhill’s long range attempt fell just short of the posts, however, and the rest of the half was a forward dominated battle played primarily in the middle of the field.

The USA came out very strong in the second half and got down to the Welsh five meter line only to knock on as they pushed for the first try of the game.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Erica Cavenaugh received a yellow card and despite being down a player the game began to swing in the American’s favor. The U.S. began to dominate possession and territory only to have several scoring opportunities thwarted by a swarming Welsh defense.

With the game approaching injury time the Welsh were awarded a series of penalties that took them out to mid-field. Although Wales looked to have weathered the storm, the USA’s Tyra McGrady pounced on a dropped ball and weaved 40 meters down the field to score in the corner. Cat Parkhill stepped up and kicked the conversion from the sideline and the U.S. bench erupted as the referee indicated full time.

“This was a well deserved result. We played most of the second half on the front foot and had several chances that we just couldn’t finish” said Head Coach Bryn Chivers. “The squad contained eight players from the team who narrowly lost 15-14 to Wales the last time the teams played (two years ago) and this proved an emotional win for our side.

“Jozy Gessner was all over the field and her work ethic was an inspiration,” Chivers added. “In a physical game you have to have someone who will step up and put in the big hits and Erica Cavenaugh did that today.”

The U-20s next game is Sunday, July 12, when they take on a strong England side that beat Canada 45-0 in the second match of the Nations Cup today.

For more information on the Women’s U-20 Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/womens_u20.

USA 7, Wales 3

U.S. Trie: McGrady
U.S. Conversion: Parkhill

USA Lineup:
1 Wendy Sherman (Colorado State); 2 Erica Lane (Chico State); 3 Rachel Sommer (West Linn, Ore.); 4 Katie Humphreys (Kent, Wash.); 5 Maggie Reidy (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); 6 Candace Barley (Maryville Tenn.); 7 Jozy Gessner (Summit, Colo.); 8 Katie Johnson (Hopkins, Minn.); 9 Cat Parkhill (University of Minnesota); 10 Sadie Anderson (Penn State); 11 Tyra McGrady (Indiana University); 12 Lisa Henneman (Seattle Women); 13 Brooke LeGate (Maryville, Tenn.); 14 Erica Cavenaugh (University of Virginia); 15 Jessica Sexaur (Army).

Reserves:
16 Katie Hathaway (Norwich); 17 Amelia Villines (Stanford); 18 Mallory Ives (Colorado State); 19 Brittany Houston (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); 20 Erin LeGate (Maryville); 21 Brittany Woodard (Virginia State); 22 Morgan Rovetti (Brigham Young).

Notes from the Sportsister Magazine on the English victory over Canada:

The England under 20 team got off to a flying start with a dominating 45-0 victory in their first game. The team took on Canada at Brunel University in their first step to defending their Nations Cup title.

The team started applying pressure right from the starting whistle, with the first try being scored in the third minute by Worcester’s Samantha Bree, her first of four in the match.

The team gained momentum throughout the game, which was helped further still when Canadian Tyson Beukeboom was sin-binned in the second half, giving the English side a one-man advantage.

Clare Garner of Leeds RFC also had a great game, contributing massively in the second half before Bree sealed the victory with her fourth try of the match.

England U20s Head Coach Giselle Mather said: “I’m thrilled with this performance and how the players stepped up to the challenge. This performance was a massive step up from our game against Wales earlier this month. They have taken on to the field everything we have worked on in training. The next three games are certainly an exciting prospect.”

The team will next face the USA side on July 12th at 3.30pm (GMT)

Vanessa Kersey, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine