It was a mixed day for the USA during day one of the Emirates Invitational 7s (EI7s). The Eagles went 2-1 today in Dubai, defeating France (14-12) and Brazil (31-14) before dropping a 19-12 decision to Canada. In the North American match, Ilona Maher was carried off the pitch after a hard double-tackle, and her medical status is unknown.
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Brazil led the USA 14-12 after the first half. The opening kickoff was pushed into touch, but then Kristen Thomas did well to steal Brazil’s lineout. A high-tackle penalty handed possession back to Brazil and then a dummy on the wing opened up the sideline for a long-range try, which was converted, 7-0. The Eagles answered off the subsequent restart, as Kristi Kirshe took the deep kick into two defenders and offloaded to Kasey McCravey in support. There was no sweeper and the scrumhalf scored easily, then converted the score: 7 all.
Brazil was away for another try, as it was able to cause some confusion with offloads in tight before swinging the ball to good speed out wide, but an offsides penalty fortunately recalled that opportunity. Instead, the USA scrum moved to Kirshe and the center stepped back inside the defense then pushed off the sweeper for the centered try, which went unconverted: 12-7. McCravey sent a deep restart and Brazil continued to work the phases as the halftime whistle sounded. There was some sideline scrap and then a hand-off in traffic put Bianca Silva away for the converted try: 14-12 to Brazil.
Cheta Emba, Nicole Heavirland and Lauren Doyle took the pitch in the second half. A missed tackle allowed Kirshe to find Kristen Thomas, who legged out the go-ahead try, which Heavirland converted, 19-14. Kirshe was well positioned for a bobbled pass out wide and took that intercept for another five, 24-14. Three consecutive penalties allowed Brazil to march into Eagle territory, but good defense kept the pressure on and Brazil returned the ball to the U.S. after a desperate tap-pass went forward. Brazil returned the favor, and as the U.S. attempted to build off a midfield scrum, the defense flew off the line. Alena Olsen and Jordan Matyas did an excellent job of working quick hands – and absorbing big hits – to Emba on the sideline, who stepped out of an attempted tackle for the try, which Heavirland converted: 31-14 the final.
USA 31
Tries: McCravey, Kirshe 2, Thomas, Emba
Cons: McCravey, Heavirland 2
When the USA and Canada met in last week’s Emirates Invitational, Canada won 31-14, so there certainly was some improvement in the 19-12 decision today. Maher’s injury undoubtedly impacted the team in ways only they could explain, but with that said, Canada was overall the sharper team out there.
Canada went up 7-0 in the first minute or so. Working the phases from the kickoff, Ghislaine Landry went quickly through the mark after a not-rolling-away penalty. After what looked like a grubber fake, Canada #11 stepped back inside the sliding defense and then hit Landry on the angle run to the try zone. The scrumhalf kicked the conversion for the early lead.
Landry’s restart bounced into touch and the USA started with a solid lineout. Kirshe drove through Bianca Farella and got her arms free to hit Maher for big break. Maher made inside Canada’s 22 where she was double-tackled. Fortunately a penalty followed shortly afterward to stop play, as Maher needed immediate medical assistance. She didn’t sit up on her own and was escorted off the pitch on a backboard. [Naya Tapper has also not returned since limping off the field during the France match.]
McCravey restarted play by kicking the penalty to touch, setting up a lineout, but her throw-in was not straight. Canada moved to play to its own 40, but as the contact picked up, Landry grubbed through the line, Farella chased it down and scored. Landry’s conversion gave Canada a 14-0 lead.
Another Landry restart went into touch and so the USA regrouped at the 50. A couple of dropped passes allowed Canada to push the game deep into Eagle territory. Karen Paquin was yellow carded for a high tackle on Steph Rovetti, but that advantage wouldn’t take hold until the second half.
From the second-half kickoff, Matyas made good ground going forward and the offload to Lauren Doyle extended the gain. It got a little messy on the sideline but then Matyas took the outlet pass at the mainline and charged past Farella, again looking for the offload and head ever on a swivel. The ball recycled quickly out of contact to Rovetti, who angled toward the sideline. Farella had trouble closing the gap, so Doyle switched back inside and took the behind-the-back pass from Rovetti into space, and then the try zone. Heavirland converted: 14-7.
Canada knocked on the restart, was penalized for not-releasing and then incurred a second yellow card, putting play inside Canada’s 22. From the tap, Matyas charged the line and drew in two defenders, and quick movement to the sideline saw Sui A’au into the try zone, 14-12.
There were approximately two minutes left in the match and Canada relocated play to the USA’s end as Brittany Benn drilled a kick down field. Kirshe recovered the ball but an isolated A’au led to a not-releasing penalty. A line-break and then a miscommunication on defense saw two Eagles collapse on one player, freeing up Charity Williams on the sideline for the try. Landry missed an easy conversion, making a tie possible for the USA: 19-12.
There was still a minute in play left, and the USA had possession. From midfield, Heavirland kicked the ball down field but Paquin was the only one earnestly chasing it down. After a few strides toward the sideline, she kicked the ball out to end the game.
USA 12
Tries: Doyle, A’au
Cons: Heavirland
There are five fixtures total during this EI7s, as France sent its second side home after week one. So the Eagles have two games remaining. There is also a different live-stream link for day two:
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
1:44 a.m. ET v Japan
7:36 a.m. ET v Kenya