June 25, 2017
Women Eagles Sevens Move to 5th Place Final After Beating Ireland
Photo: USA Rugby
Doug Coil
After losing to Australia 31-14 in the Cup Quarterfinals of the HSBC Clermont-Ferrand Sevens, the Women’s Eagles Sevens faced Ireland in a 5th place semi-final rematch winning 31-14. With the win, the USA will face the winner between Russia and Fiji in the 5th Place Final at 12:12pm ET. The entire tournament may be viewed live in the United States on The Rugby Channel.
In Pool play the Women Eagles Sevens defeated Ireland 12-7, Japan 33-5 and then lost to New Zealand 19-14 to finish second in their pool at the Clermont-Ferrnad Sevens.
USA v Ireland
The USA Women’s Eagles faced Ireland in the 5th Place Semi-Finals. This was a rematch of the first pool play match where the USA came back to win 12-7. Both teams adjusted their starters providing valuable experience for some of the newer players.
Much of the first half saw both teams engaging in some back and forth play. It took until the final minute before halftime for Jessica Javelet to score after a penalty at the breakdown by Ireland. Nicole Heavirland then converted for a 7-0 lead. The USA added a second quick try as Hevirland found a gap for a try to increase the lead to 12-0 at halftime.
The USA set the pace to begin the second half as Emba went into contact and then Kelter offloaded to Joanne Fa’avesi for a try and Kelter conversion.
Ireland then struck back as Stacey Flood offloaded to Hannah Tyrell, who went into contact. At the breakdown, Ireland had numbers right and Claire Boles went in for her first Series try to narrow the lead to 19-7.
The Eagles struck right back after going through several phases as Sara Parsons offloaded to Mata Hingano for her first Series try. Tess Feury then converted increasing the lead to 26-7.
The restart was kicked deep to Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe, whose motored 95 meters for a try under the posts, and it was 26-14.
The tries were coming fast and furious and Naya Tapper went aroung the wing for one last try to gain the win for the USA 31-14.
With the win, the Eagles will play Fiji at 12:12pm in the 5th place Final. Fiji defeated Russia in the other 5th place semi-final 24-7.
USA Starters: Emba, Fa’avesi, Kosko, Heavirland, Javelet, Feury, Kelter
Ireland starters: Williams, Boles, K. Flood, Tyrell, S. Flood, Keohane, McGann
Women’s Eagles Sevens – HSBC Clermont-Ferrand Sevens
1. Cheta Emba 2. Joanne Fa’avesi 3. Sara Parsons 4. Nicole Heavirland 5. Ryan Carlyle 6. Mata Hingano 7. Jessica Javelet 8. Ashley Perry 9. Natalie Kosko 10. Tess Feury 11. Alev Kelter 12. Naya Tapper
Ireland: 1 Audrey O’Flynn 2 Hannah Tyrrell 3 Stacey Flood 4 Megan Williams 5 Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe 6 Claire Boles 7 Chloe Blackmore 8 Claire Keohane 9 Emma Murphy 10 Kim Flood 11 Anna McGann 12 Katie Heffernan
Women’s Eagles Sevens | HSBC Clermont-Ferrand Sevens
- v. Ireland – W 12-7
- v. Japan – W 33-5
- v. New Zealand – L 19-14
- Cup QF v Australia – L 31-14
- 5th Place SF – Ireland
