England Defeats USA to Open 2019 Super Series

The USA Women’s Eagles played their first test match of the year against No. 2 England on June 28, losing 38-5, in the opening round of Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. In the subsequent match, New Zealand beat Canada 35-20.

The USA will play New Zealand on July 2 at 5:15 pm PT, while Canada faces France at 2:15 pm. All matches for the series are being streamed live on FloRugby.com. Single day tickets start at only $19 with a full tournament pass available for only $69. To purchase and for a full schedule, visit usarugby.org/superseries2019.

Match Recap

A cross kick by Amber Reed led to a Kelly Smith try in the left corner. England’s Emily Scarratt then slotted the conversion to lead 7-0.

The USA answered back with a try by Hope Rogers from close range to cut the lead to 7-5.

England’s scrumhalf Claudia Macdonald step froze a USA defender and she grounded the ball under the posts with Scarratt adding the conversion, 14-5. A Scarratt intercept of a Cantorna pass and her subsequent conversion extended the lead to 21-5.

Prior to the break, Heather Kerr added a fourth try after a maul, 26-5.

Second Half

Early in the second half Poppy Cleall was sent to the bin. The Women’s Eagles attacked from a lineout 5-meters from in goal, but the ensuing throw was too long, allowing England to clear. The second attack inside the Red Rose’s 22-meters was negated after a penalty for not releasing in the breakdown.

England’s Heather Kerr then mauled her way over the line and grounded for a try to push the lead to 31-5. An ill attempted kick then led to a Natasha Hunt try and a Scarratt conversion, 38-5.

England went over in-goal one more time, but the ball was held up by Baravilala.

2019 Super Series Squads: The USA vs England

USA Women’s Eagles: 1. Catie Benson (Life West Gladiatrix, 17 caps) 2. Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale Merlins, 8 caps) 3. Hope Rogers (USA Sevens, 25 caps) 4. Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens (USA)
Harlequins (ENG), 7 caps) 5. Stacey Bridges (Beantown Rugby, 36 caps) 6. Kate Zackary (C) (San Diego Surfers, 9 caps) 7. Joycelynn Taufa (Lindenwood University, 3 caps) 8. Asinate Serevi (Scion Rugby, 2 caps) 9. Ashlee Byrge (USA Sevens, 0 caps) 10. Gabriella Cantorna (Glendale Merlins, 3 caps) 11. Jennine Duncan (Seattle Saracens, 2 caps) 12. Eti Haungatau (USA Sevens, 0 caps) 13. Alev Kelter (USA Sevens, 9 caps) 14. Bui Baravilala (San Diego Surfers, 6 caps) 15. Bulou Mataitoga (Berkeley All Blues, 0 caps)
16. Nick James (Houston Athletic, 6 caps) 17. Charli Jacoby (Chicago North Shore, 0 caps) 18. Alycia Washington (New York Rugby, 17 caps) 19. Elizabeth Cairns (Life West Gladiatrix, 8 caps) 20. Olivia Ortiz (Davenport University, 0 caps) 21. Emily Henrich (Dartmouth College, 2 caps) 22. Kris Thomas (USA Sevens, 7 caps) 23. Katana Howard (Twin City Amazons, 0 caps) USA Expanded Squad

USA STAFF: General Manager Emilie Bydwell, Head Coach Rob Cain, Assistant Coaches Jamie Burke, Kate Daley, and Rich Ashfield, Coach/Team Manager Jenny Lui, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Ian Jones,
Head Performance Analyst Dave Gardner, Team Doctor Terence Cronin, Head Athletic Trainer Katherine Henry, Athletic Trainer Danielle Allen

England Red Roses: 1. Ellena Perry (Saracens Women – 3 caps) 2. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks – 16 caps) 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears Women – 25 caps) 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 9 caps) 5. Abbie Scott (capt) (Harlequins Ladies – 36 caps) 6. Jo Brown (Loughborough Lightning – 5 caps) 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens Women – 65 caps) 8. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women – 29 caps)
9. Claudia Macdonald (Wasps FC Ladies – 4 caps) 10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women – 13 caps) 11. Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 9 caps) 12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women – 49 caps) 13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning – 78 caps) 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries – 40 caps) 15. Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women – 22 caps) 16. Clara Nielson (Bristol Bears Women) 17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women – 10 caps) 18. Chloe Edwards (Harlequins Ladies) 19. Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning – 12 caps) 20. Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo Ladies – 6 caps) 21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 46 caps) 22. Millie Wood (Gloucester-Hartpury Women – 4 caps)
23. Carys Williams (Loughborough Lightning – 4 caps) + Head Coach Simon Middleton,  Expanded Squad