Fans at St. Albert Rugby Park were treated to yet another epic battle from the USA and Australia – two teams locked with one and one records going in to today’s all important final pool matches. With the very same hard hitting, in your face attacking style that kept the USA close against England in their opening round – the USA emerged victorious with a 10-6 win over the young Australian team.
A full nine minutes in to the first half, USA finally broke in to the Aussie 22m area, and on being awarded a penalty – took the lineout option where they successfully drove a rolling maul over the line for their first score. The conversion from the sideline was missed – the score 5-0 to USA.
Several minutes later, Australia got on the board with a penalty kick from just outside the 22m to bring the score to 5-3.
As both teams continued to battle at the breakdown, it seemed the only way anyone was going to score again was for someone to make a mistake and give up a penalty. The USA was the first to fall victim to that, and when Australia was awarded another penalty from close range, full back Tobie McGann slotted it through the uprights yet again to put Australia ahead 6-5.
The next passage of play was dictated by hard runs and even harder hits. Both teams were obviously not leaving anything on the field in this first half of play.
Then at 33 minutes, the USA struck again for what would prove to be the final score of the game. Centre Pam Kosanke broke out wide after her team mates stole quick ball from a ruck situation just outside their 22m. Kosanke pushed hard for the corner and after a 55m run, touched down for the score. With the conversion missed under these windy conditions – the score was now 10-6 for USA.
With time nearly elapsed for the first half, Australia’s Tricia Brown made a telling run down the left touchline, and looked to be in for sure, when at the last minute, a USA defender caught up and drove her in to touch.
The second half was a seesaw battle with both teams battling hard at every breakdown. 10 minutes in, Australia were in a good position to score, but were shut down time and time again by the solid line of USA defenders. At the 30 minute mark Australia threatened again to score. They were awarded no less than three penalties within five to 10 metres out from the goal line. The USA continued to close on the Australian attack, and stymied yet another round of scoring opportunities.
Minutes in to injury time, the USA team now found themselves down in Australia’s end and put immense pressure on the Australian defence, but were held back by their opponents.
On the final whistle, this battle of attrition that saw numerous replacements in the game ended in favour of the USA with a score of 10-6.
With the tournament format the way that it is – despite this win for the USA – their hopes of getting in to the semi-finals have been dashed. Destiny was theirs to control on this day, and although they came away with a well deserved win, it will be bitter sweet as they must now watch from the stands as the top four teams compete in the semi finals next Tuesday at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
Quotes
USA captain Jen Crouse: “We felt we had energy and momentum after that second try. Then in the second half, they had us on the back foot, and we tried to hold on. They were turning over our ball, they were very hard at the breakdown.”
Australian coach Steven Hamson, on future tournament involvement for the women’s team: “The Canada Cup and Churchill Cup tournament formats would be very good for us to compete in.”
“There is good provincial level competition in New Zealand, and South Africa with a new team could also offer good options.”