Serevi Selects First In Pool at Coral Coast Sevens, Fiji

January 15, 2016

Serevi Selects First In Pool at Coral Coast Sevens, Fiji

Photo: Serevi Selects

Doug Coil

The Serevi Selects are the United States representative at the Coral Coast Sevens in Sigatoka, Fiji on January 15-16, 2016 . The squad includes several capped Eagles and others that are pushing for inclusion.

The Serevi Selects were drawn into Pool R with NZ Raiders and the Marist Seahawks from Fiji. In pool play NZ Raiders defeated Marist Seahawks 17-5. The Servevi Selects also responded with a 19-0 win against the Marist Seahawks.

In the match against the Marist Seahawks, Kelsi Stockert took an offload from Ryan Carlyle and it was try-time. The conversion was no good. Abby Gustaitis added to the score with a try of her own prior to halftime that was converted by Lauren Rhode. At halftime it was 12-0 to the Serevi Selects.

The second half saw the USA winning an opposition scrum. Kelsi Stockert picked up the ball and found a gap in the defense and was off to the races for a long try under the posts. Meya Bizer converted and the Final score was 19-0

The second Pool match featured two undefeated teams as the Serevi Selects faced the NZ Raiders. An offload from Lauren Rhode to Danielle Miano resulted in the first try. Although the USA would have other attacking opportunities, at halftime it was 5-0 to the Serevi Selects.

The second half continued the excellent USA defense. At a breakdown to NZ Raiders, an Amy Naber pick resulted in a try. Once again the conversion was missed. Toward the end of the match, an errant pass in goal by the NZ Raiders resulted in Ryan Carlyle pouncing on the ball for a try. The final score was 15-0 Serevi Selects and first place in their Pool.

Other Pool winners, each 2-0, were the Aussie Pearls and both Fijiana Sevens split squads, Telecom Fijiana Mokosoi and Telecom Fijiana Tagimoucia. In addition to the USA Serevi Selects, these will be the teams to watch tomorrow when the knockout phase continues.

The USA Serevi Selects quarterfinal match will be at 3:40pm ET and may be viewed on the following stream.

Cup Quarterfinal Matches

Aussie Pearls v Central Chiefs 1

NZ Raiders v Telecom Fijiana Mokosoi

USA Serevi Selects v Nadi Blazers

Striders v Telecom Fijiana Tagimoucia

Bowl Semi-Finals

Central Chiefs 2 v Coastline Roos

Marist Seahawks v Mystic Knights

When the Cup winner takes center stage, not only will they win the Na Iri trophy, but they will win a $20,000 prize.

Serevi Selects Squad: Meya Bizer, Sylvia Braaten, Ryan Carlyle, Carmen Farmer, Abby Gustaitis, Nicole Heavirland, Danielle Miano, Amy Naber, Lauren Rhode, Rebekah Siebach, Kelsi Stockert, Abby Vestal, Richie Walker (Head Coach)

Day 1 Results

Pool Q

Striders 42-0 Central Chiefs 2

Aussie Pearls 43-0 Central Chiefs 2

Aussie Pearls 24-14 Striders

Pool R

NZ Raiders 17-5 Marist Seahawks (Fiji)

Serevi Selects 19-0 Marist Seahawks

Serevi Selects 15-0 NZ Raiders

Pool S

Nadi Blazers 15-5 Mystic Knights

Telecom Fijiana Mokosoi 21-0 Nadi Blazers