The second round of the 2019-2020 HSBC World Series Sevens is being held at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens 5-7 December 2019. The USA entered the tournament first-place in the world after Claiming the Cup at the USA Sevens in Glendale.
The USA opened the Dubai Sevens with a 29-7 win over Brazil and followed with a 33-14 victory over Russia. This set up a match between the USA and rivals Canada with the Women’s Eagles Sevens emerging with a 34-10 win.
The USA will face Russia in the Cup Quarterfinals at 1:50 am ET, while Canada faces France in the second quarterfinal match at 1:06 am ET.
Pool Results
Pool A
- Canada 24 – 19 Russia
- USA 29 – 7 Brazil
- Canada 43-0 Brazil
- USA 33-14 Russia
- Russia 22-7 Brazil
- USA 34-10 Canada
Pool B
- Spain 12 – 10 Ireland
- Australia 38 – 10 Fiji
- Spain 19-19 Fiji
- Australia 38-5 Ireland
- Fiji 28-12 Ireland
- Australia 38-5 Spain
Pool C
- France 29 – 0 England
- New Zealand 48 – 0 Japan
- France 21-7 Japan
- New Zealand 40-12 England
- England 31-14 Japan
- France 19-14 New Zealand
Finals
- 11th Place Playoff: Japan Brazil
- 9th Place Playoff: England Ireland
- Cup Quarterfinal: Australia Spain
- Cup Quarterfinal: France Canada
- Cup Quarterfinal: Fiji New Zealand
- Cup Quarterfinal: USA Russia
- Cup Semifinal:
- Cup Semifinal:
- Bronze:
- Cup Final:
USA Pool A Recap
The USA opened the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens with a 29-7 victory over Brazil.
USA 29-7 Brazil
The USA Women’s Sevens defeated Brazil 29-7 for the first win of Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens.
The USA struck first after a Brazilian yellow card after a try by Kristi Kirshe with Alev Kelter slotting the conversion to lead 7-0.
A huge tackle by Alev Kelter then led to another try by Kirshe with Kelter adding the extras for a 14-0 lead at the break.
Eti Haungatau proved difficult to defend as she stepped and fended two defenders for a try to lead 19-0. The USA appeared on the verge of adding another try, however, the ball was lost and Thalia Costa raced the length of the pitch with Raquel Kochhann adding the extras.
Abby Gustaitis closed the match by reaching over the line on a tackle at fulltime for the 29-7 win.
USA Starters: 5. Alev Kelter 11. Kris Thomas (C) 3. Abby Gustaitis (C) 7. Naya Tapper 10. Kayla Canett 12. Kristi Kirshe 9. Eti Haungatau Reserves 1. Cheta Emba (6′) 6. Lauren Doyle (9′) 4. Nicole Heavirland (9′) 8. Jordan Gray-Matyas (9′) 2 Ilona Mayer (DNP)
Brazil Starters: 2 Luiza Campos 10 Raquel Kochhann 1 Mariana Silva 8 Eshyllen Coimbra 6 Isadora Cerullo 11 Bianca Silva 9 Byanca Santa Rita Reserves 4 Leila Dos Santos (7′) 5 Thalia Costa (7′) 12 Franciele Martins (10′) Aline Bednarski (DNP) Andressa Alves (DNP)
USA 33-14 Russia
Russia opened the scoring with a try by Daria Shestakova with Daira Lushina converting to lead 7-0. The USA answered with a try by Lauren Doyle after an offload by Alev Kelter with Kelter slotting the extras to knot the match at 7 all.
The USA took a 12-7 lead after a Kris Thomas try and increased the lead to 26-7 after two tries and conversions by Alev Kelter.
Russia cut the lead to 26-14 after a try and conversion by Elena Zdrokova. Eti Haungatau followed with her second try of the tournament with Nicole Heavirland converting to win 33-14.
With the win, the USA assured themselves of advancing to the Cup Quarterfinals.
USA Starters: 6. Lauren Doyle 5. Alev Kelter 4. Nicole Heavirland 7. Naya Tapper 1. Cheta Emba 8. Jordan Matyas 2. Ilona Maher Reserves 11. Kris Thomas (3′) 3. Abby Gustaitis (9′) 10. Kayla Canett (11′) 12. Kristi Kirshe (8′) 9. Eti Haungatau (12′)
Russia Starters: 4 Alena Mikhaltsova 5 Baizat Khamidova 7 Kristina Seredina 2 Daria Lushina 12 Anna Baranchuk 3 Daria Shestakova 10 Elena Zdrokova Reserves 6 Arina Bystrova (6′) 8 Nadezhda Sozonova (7′) 9 Marina Myasnikov (8′) 1 Daria Noritsina (9′) 6 Iana Danilova (9′)
USA 34-10 Canada
The USA controlled possession during the first half jumping to a 17-0 lead at the break on the strength of three tries by Kristi Kirshe, Alev Kelter and Naya Tapper with Nicole Heavirland converting the latter.
On the second-half restart, Bianca Farella gathered the ball from the breakdown and raced for a try to cut the lead to 17-5. Kristi Kirshe then broke two tackles for her second try of the match to push the lead to 24-5 after Heavirland’s conversion. Cheta Emba then stipped the ball from Landry for a try to lead 29-5.
Canada answered back after numbers right with Kaili Lukan dotting down to cut the lead to 29-10. The USA finished with a second try by Emba in the left corner after bumping Paquin aside.
With the 34-10 victory, the USA won Pool A and will face Russia in the Cup Quarterfinals, while Canada meet France.
USA Starters: 6. Lauren Doyle 5. Alev Kelter 11. Kris Thomas 4. Nicole Heavirland 1. Cheta Emba 8. Jordan Gray-Matyas 12. Kristi Kirshe Reserves 7. Naya Tapper (6′) 3. Abby Gustaitis (9′) 10. Kayla Canett (12′) 9. Eti Haungatau (12′) 2. Ilona Mayer (12′)
Canada Starters: 8. Bianca Farella 5. Julia Greenshields 9. Ghislaine Landry 2. Kayla Moleschi 1. Brittany Benn 3. Caroline Crossley 12. Pam Buisa Reserves 11. Karen Paquin (6′) 6. Charity Williams (6′) 10. Kaili Lukan 4. Elissa Alarie (12′) 7. Sara Kaljuvee (14′)
Other Articles
DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.