February 19, 2017
USA Women’s Falcons Win Okinawa Rugby Sevens
Photo: USA Women’s Falcons
Doug Coil
The USA Women’s Falcons Coach Andrew Locke coached the team to the Okinawa Rugby Sevens Championship as the Falcons beat Australia 19-12 in the Final. Kate Zachary captained the side. Bulou Mataitoga was a last minute scratch, as at the Sydney Sevens, so the bench was short for the tournament.
The Okinawa Rugby Sevens is an international women’s rugby event in which six teams from Japan, Australia, France, Netherlands and the United States competed in a round-robin style tournament on Feb. 18, with remaining round robin matches and the 5th, 3rd and championship matches held Feb. 19.
The players competing in this tournament represented their national teams or developmental teams. The tournament exposed the women to more high performance opportunities, as they continue the rugby sevens season and prepare for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018 or the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
On day one, the USA won against France and had two draws against Japan A & B teams, as both Japan teams came back to scores just prior to the matches ending. On day two, the USA beat the Netherlands and then faced undefeated Australia and won 26-17. This set up facing Australia again in the Championship, where they once again won 19-12.
Schedule:
Day 1- Feb. 18 (Sat.)
9 a.m. – Australia vs. Japan B 26-12
9:30 a.m. – USA vs. Japan A 19-19
10 a.m. – France vs. Netherlands 22-12
Noon – Australia vs. Japan A 26-14
12:30 p.m. – Netherlands vs. Japan B 12-19
1 p.m. – USA vs. France 29-7
3 p.m. – Australia vs. Netherlands 21-10
3: 30 p.m. – France vs. Japan A 17-26
4 p.m. – USA vs. Japan B 19-19
Day 2 – Feb. 19 (Sun.)
9 a.m. – Australia vs. France 17-15
9:30 a.m. – USA vs. Netherlands 33-0
10 a.m. – Japan A vs. Japan B 38-17
11:30 a.m. – Australia vs. USA 17-26
Noon – France vs. Japan B 22-14
12:30 p.m. – Netherlands vs. Japan A 0-7
3 p.m. – Fifth-place match Japan B v Netherlands 36-5
3:30 p.m. – Third-place match Japan A v France 5-45
4 p.m. – Final USA v Australia 19-12
USA Falcons – Okinawa Sevens
1. Lilly Durbin 2. Cheta Emba 3. Megan Foster 4. Nicole Heavirland 5. Tia Blythe 6. Sam Pankey 7. Ryan Carlyle 8. Kelsi Stockert 9. Nicole Strasko 10. Naya Tapper 11. Bulou Mataitoga 12. Kate Zackary (C)
USA Falcons – Okinawa Sevens
- v. Japan A – D19-19
- v. France – W29-7
- v. Japan B – D19-19
- v. Netherlands W33-0
- v. Australia – W26-17
- Championship v Australia W19-12
