SUNBURY, UK – Despite an aggressive showing, the USA Women’s National Team wrapped up its First Sports International England Tour with a 34-0 loss against England at London Irish ARFC, Sunbury, on Saturday, December 15.

In the tale of two halves, the USA charged strong out of the gate, putting up some huge tackles in the physical first half. During the game’s early minutes, England struggled to get their offense in synch and soon felt the wrath of a stiff USA defense; however, the Women’s Eagles were unable to bring these labors to fruition in the try zone.

The USA held their opponents scoreless for the first 21 minutes of the match, before team vice captain Rachael Burford (Saracens) put England on the board. The Eagles’ Vanesha McGee (Philadelphia) caught a quick break just before the end of the half, but was stopped short and England’s Claire Allen (Saracens) soon retaliated, cutting into the try zone on the outside after her teammates were kept out by heavy USA pressure to bring the tally to 10-0 leading into the break.

While the Women’s Eagles drove in close to the try zone - once off another swift run by McGee and again with sub Jillion Potter (Univ. of New Mexico) charging in – the team was left unable to get on the board in the second half. The USA continued to apply pressure defensively, but it was not enough to ward off their opponents. The England Women dialed up their offense, starting with a Rochelle Clark (Henley) try and subsequent Katy McLean conversion at about two minutes into the half. England fullback Charlotte Barras (Saracens) would also break into the try zone after 23 minutes to bring England’s lead to 22-0.

In an effort to quash the mounting England attack, the USA Eagles brought in some fresh legs after 60 minutes and were able to combat England’s offense until minute 73 when Sarah Beale (Leodiensians) snuck in for a try. England would notch one more score when Michaela Staniford (Wasps) capitalized on a stray USA pass in during the game’s final moments. Alice Richardson (Richmond) booted the extras to bring the final score under the lights at London Irish ARFC to 34-0.

For more information on the USA Women’s National Team and to keep up on the squad’s tour journal, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles.

USA 0
1. Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), 2. Lisa Butts (Berkeley All-Blues), 3. Jamie Burke (Berkeley All-Blues), 4. Shaina Turley (San Diego Surfers), 5. Stacey Baker (Philadelphia), 6. Liz Dilley (Washington), 7. Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union), 8. Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All-Blues), 9. Kim Magrini (Keystone Rugby Club), 10. Jossy Tseng (Stanford University), 11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues), 12. Mel Kanuk (Maryland Stingers), 13. San Juanita Moreno (Oregon Sports Union), 14. Vanesha, McGee (Philadelphia), 15. Ashley English (Berkeley All-Blues). 16. Heather Jennings (Seattle) – in for Burke at 65, 17. Jaime Lange (Olde Girls of Glendale) - in at 50, 18. Kati McCormick (Univ. of Wisconsin – Milwaukee) – in at 40, 19. Jillion Potter (Univ. of New Mexico) in at 40, 20. Rose Whitmore (Berkeley All-Blues) – in for Magrini at 68 min, 21. Meg Crapster-Pregont (Cornell) – in for Tseng at 75, 22. Ashley Kmiecik (Emerald City Mudhens) – repl Marchino at 72.

ENGLAND 34
Tries: Burford, Allen, Clark, Barras, Beale, Staniford
Conversions: McLean, Richardson

1. Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2. Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3. Katy Storie (Blaydon), 4.Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park), 5. Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6. Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7. Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8. Catherine Spencer - captain (Worcester), 9. Amy Turner (Richmond), 10. Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park), 11. Amber Penrith (Cardiff Quins), 12. Rachael Burford – vice captain (Saracens), 13. Claire Allan (Saracens), 14. Danielle Watermen (Clifton),15. Charlotte Barras (Saracens), 16. Emma Layland (Richmond), 17. Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 18. Sarah Beale (Leodiensians), 19. Jane Leonard (Wasps/Army), 20. Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 21. Alice Richardson (Richmond), 22. Michaela Staniford (Wasps).