AYLESBURY, England -- The U.S. Women’s National Under-19 Team lost the final game of its tour through England and Wales on Sunday, as the young American squad was defeated 32-5 by the Canadian Under-19 Team.

The jersey ceremony for the U.S. was delayed until the morning of the game in order to give a couple of questionable players the opportunity to pass a late fitness test. Flyhalf Karen Hunt injured an ankle in the loss to Wales and was cleared to play, but Jozy Gessner’s ankle sprain proved too much and kept the U-19’s starting flanker out of the lineup all together. 

The USA chose to take the wind at its backs in the first half and Hunt used the opportunity to repeatedly pin the Canadians back in their own 22. In the ninth minute, the USA won a lineout inside the Canadian five meter line and a drive to the goal line followed by a succession of quick rucks, set up flanker Nikki Harrell (Army)to dive over for the opening score to put the USA up 5-0.

Five minutes later it looked like the USA would increase its lead when strong play by the forwards took the Eagles to the goal line, but a penalty was called for not releasing the ball and the Canadians were able stop the charge.

As the half progressed, Canada’s U-19’s started to put together some solid passages of play that saw them get close on several occasions. In the 20th minute, they broke to the weak side off a scrum were able to score in the corner to tie the game 5-5. The game went from end to end with both teams having chances, but Canada scored again in the 31st minute. The USA mounted a strong attack that took them down into the Canadian 22, but a knock on brought the whistle for half time with our neighbors to the north up by seven.

The start of the second half saw the wind pick up and the USA continually found it difficult to clear their line. Canada scored in the 43rd minute to go ahead 17-5. The USA failed to find the form that had them in the game in the first half and it seemed to be over for the young Eagles as Canada scored again in the 50th minute to increase their lead to 22-5. The USA coaching staff began to make substitutions in order for some of the younger players to get some more experience.  A penalty in the 63rd minute and a last minute try by Canada made the final score 32-5.

“This was a much better performance and the score really didn’t do justice to the effort put in by the team today,” Head Coach Bryn Chivers said. “The quality of our play in the first half was like night and day compared to this time last week when we played England. The growth of the players over this tour has been incredible and it will be interesting to se how these players go back and influence their high school and college sides.”

The Women’s National U-19 Team returned home on Monday.

For more information about the squad, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/Womens_U19.

USA Women’s U19 vs. Canada U-19’s

1. Justine Harris, Army; 2. Marissa Readinger, Army (Laura Parker, KC Jazz); 3. Megan Thompson, Western Washington (Meagan Buford, North Oconee, Ga.); 4. Stacey Bridges, Texas A&M; 5. Kati McCormick, UW Milwaukee; 6. Kelsey Moss, Stanford; 7. Nikki Harrell, Army (Mallory Ives, Summit, Colo.); 8. Candace Barley, Maryville, Tenn.; 9. Jenny Beaman, U of Tennessee (Hanna Gregor, Portland, Maine); 10. Karen Hunt, U of Illinois; 11. Catherine Turnerdrown, Riverton, Utah (Kathryn Johnson, Hopkins, Minn.); 12. Lisa Henneman, Captain, Kent, Wash.; 13. Rachel Sachs, Syracuse; 14. Sadie Anderson, Ft Collins, Colo.; 15. Jessica Watkins, Stanford.

Canada 32, USA 5

USA

Tries: Nikki Harrell