SVNS World Series - Vancouver women
DAY ONE WRAP: We bring you all the Day One women’s action from BC Place, Vancouver – the fourth round of HSBC SVNS.
Australia top the women’s standings ahead of New Zealand, France and Ireland who claimed a historic first-ever title last time out in Perth.
Pool A
New Zealand were simply too good for an enthusiastic Brazil – Shiray Kaka (two), Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (two) and Michaela Blyde scoring first-half tries for a 35-0 lead at the break. Tyla King kicked five conversions. Blyde got her second, before Yasmim Soares finally broke Brazil’s duck with a long-range break-out try. That’s how it ended – 40-7.
Perth champions Ireland had a nervy start against lowly South Africa, with Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe eventually breaking the deadlock after four minutes. Some shoddy handling cost the South Africans dearly, with Stacey Flood scoring the second for Ireland and two Lucy Rock conversions making it 14-0 at the break. Nadine Roos, after a great chip-and-chase, opened South Africa’s scoring early in the second half. Nadine Roos hit back for Ireland, with Crowe getting a second to seal a 28-7 win.
This game could only go one way after a costly yellow card was given to South Africa to give the Black Ferns an overlap with every attacking phase. South Africa would do unbelievably well to stay in the match at the end of the first half as a brilliant chip-and-chase by Nadine Roos, which has become a staple in her arsenal, would keep South Africa’s hopes alive. The second half is where the Black Ferns would really gain momentum as the tackles began to slip by the South Africans who struggled to keep the energy making the tries easy to come by for New Zealand to make light work against the Blitzbok women.
The Irish got off to a tricky start to the game against the Brazilians as the errors kept creeping in making it an unusual performance to their second game of the tournament. Bianca Silva gets the first try of the match for Brazil with scintillating speed that catches everyone by surprise followed by Thalia Costa’s try down the touchline that puts Brazil in the lead by two tries at the end of the first half. This had to be the upset of the tournament so far as Ireland just could not get into the game while Brazil were undoubtedly better on attack and defense. A brilliant performance and a memorable victory for Brazil.
Results
New Zealand 40-7 Brazil
Ireland 28-7 South Africa
New Zealand 35-5 South Africa
Ireland 7-24 Brazil
Pool B
In a tit-for-tat first half, the United States took a 14-12 lead into the break in the tournament’s opening match – Steph Rovetti and Ariana Ramsey scoring for the Yanks, with Reapi Ulunisau and Raijieli Daveua replying for the Fijians. Ilisapeci Delaiwau put Fiji back in the lead early in the second half, but Ariana Ramsey scored the match-winner for the USA two minutes from time. Kayla Canett (two) and Alev Kelter kicked the conversions for the USA, with Ana Maria Naimasi landing one for Fiji.
Series leaders Australia were made to work hard for their 12-10 win over a willing Japan – the teams scoring two tries each and a solitary Teagan Levi conversion the difference. Sakura Mizutani put Japan in the lead after a period of sustained pressure. Sharni Smale and Charlotte Caslick put Australia in the lead with two second-half tries, but Japan launched a late raid and Honoka Tsutsumi scored an unconverted try a minute from time. The Aussies held on in the face of another raid to start with a win.
An action-packed second game for both teams as the tries flowed from the both the Japanese and American women. It was the piercing lines of Japan against the strong runners of the United States. Japan edge the game by one try at the end of the first half but the game is far from over. The United States started the second half on the front foot as both teams refused to give an inch with the score at 14 all with 5 minutes left to play. The Brave Blossoms would soon run out of steam as they were unable to hold onto the lead that saw the United States come from behind to beat Japan in style.
It’s energy-sapping stuff as Australia do well to absorb pressure and then create it against the Fijians who have all the ball in the first half of the game. After being behind initially, Australia show their class to end the first half with two tries to one as they prove to be more effective with ball in hand. The Aussie women end the match with a firm hand on the game having yet to have hit their stride in this tournament.
Results
United States 21-17 Fiji
Australia 12-10 Japan
United States 26-14 Japan
Australia 26-12 Fiji
Pool C
Hosts Canada had a sloppy start. allowing Séraphine Okemba to open the scoring for France. Okemba added a second a minute later and Camille Grassineau got their third on the stroke of half-time, Caroline Drouin adding two conversions to make it 19-0 at the break. Chloe Daniels eventually opened the Canadian account two minutes into the second half, but Anne-Cécile Ciofani hit straight back. Charity Williams pulled one back for Canada, with France winning 26-14.
The start to the encounter between Great Britain and Spain was littered with handling errors, with Anne Fernández de Corres eventually getting the first try – Spain starting from near their own tryline, after the desperate defence held out the British. Paula Requena got a second on the stroke of half-time, with two Ingrid Algar conversions making it 14-0 at the break. Ellie Boatman got Britain on the board early in the second half, but Juana Stella restored Spain’s 14-point lead. Jasmine Joyce made it a seven-point game with less than a minute to go, but Spain held on for a 18-12 win.
It proved to be a no contest between these two neighbouring nations as the French women had all the possession and territory in the first half bringing the Spanish women back down to earth after getting their first win in this SVNS series. France start the second half with a lead by two tries with Anne Ciofani putting the game out of reach with an inside-outside dart from her own 22m line to ensure that her side finish this game strong in a rather scrappy affair.
Canada get off to an electric start that gets the crowd going wild after three run-away tries in quick succession. Great Britain just don’t seem to have an answer as the Canadians keep the momentum rolling which puts them in a comfortable lead at half-time. Canada end the match with a sensational performance and a comprehensive victory as they could not put a foot wrong to smash Great Britain by 6 tries.
Results
France 26-14 Canada
Great Britain 12-19 Spain
France 19-7 Spain
Great Britain 0-38 Canada
