The USA overcame a stern challenge from Spain on Saturday with a late try from Hope Rogers securing a 20-14 result in Madrid. It was a close contest throughout, with Las Leonas trailing by just two points at halftime and fighting back to hold a one point lead after 70 minutes.
It was Rogers who got on the board first for the USA, with a try early on to settle the nerves. The USA went on the attack again but the Spain defense held. A lengthy pause in play came at 22 minutes when Leonas flyhalf Zahía Pérez was stretchered off with a lower leg injury after an awkward collision with one of her own teammates.
When play resumed it was the home side who came out firing, with Claudia Peña knocking over a penalty goal just short of the half-hour mark. Gabby Cantorna responded off the tee for the Eagles, but Peña would find her target once more before the halftime break.
Not two minutes into the second half came a try for the Eagles. Bulou Mataitoga stepped past one defender and offloaded to Eti Haungatau. The powerful midfielder shoved her opposite number over the line before falling over to ground the ball in the corner.
Pena’s third penalty goal near the hour mark closed the gap, and then the Leonas took the lead soon after when Carmen Castellucci crashed over on one of several strong carries from the impressive No8. It wasn’t to be for Spain, however, as Rogers showed her strength to spin and drive through three defenders and touch down under s for her brace.
Next Saturday will see the USA take on Canada at the same venue in a match that will double as the first round of the Pacific Four. Spain will look for a winning result against South Africa.
SCORING
SPAIN 14
Tries (1) – C. Castellucci (67′)
Pens (3) – C. Peña 3 (29′, 38′, 56′)
USA 20
Tries (3) – H. Rogers 2 (6′, 73′), E. Haungatau (42′)
Cons (1) – G. Cantorna (74′)
Pens (1) – G. Cantorna (32′)
TEAMS
SPAIN
1 Inés Antolínez, 2 Cristina Blanco (capt.), 3 Laura Delgado, 4 Anna Puig, 5 Kasandra Sylla, 6 Lucía Gayoso, 7 Alba Capell, 8 Carmen Castellucci, 9 Lucía Díaz, 10 Zahía Pérez, 11 Claudia Pérez, 12 Maider Aresti, 13 Alba Vinuesa, 14 Clara Piquero, 15 Claudia Peña
Replacements: 16 María Del Castillo, 17 María de las Huertas Román, 18 Sidorella Bracic, 19 Nerea García, 20 Vico Gorrochategui, 21 Julia Castro, 22 Inés Bueso, 23 Cristina López
USA
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Jenny Kronish, 5 Evi Ashenbrucker, 6 Tahlia Brody, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Bulou Mataitoga, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 13 Eti Haungatau, 14 Summer Harris-Jones, 15 Meya Bizer
Replacements: 16 Jett Hayward, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Catie Benson, 19 Megan Neyen, 20 Sophia Haley, 21 Carly Waters, 22 Kristin Bitter, 23 Autumn Czaplicki
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistants: Maria Pacifico (Italy) & Maria Heitor (Portugal)
TMO: Félix Villegas (Spain)
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