LANGFORD, British Columbia - Carmen Farmer scored her first HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series try in a dominant showing at HSBC Canada Women's Sevens Saturday as the Women's Eagles Sevens defeated Fiji, 24-12.
Richie Walker's team recovered from a disappointing first-match loss to Spain earlier in the day at Westhills Stadium to better their chances of reaching Sunday's Cup Quarterfinals from Pool B. The Eagles will finish pool play at 6:12 p.m. PT.
The U.S. did not spend any match time behind on the scoreboard against Spain, but trailed Fiji after two minutes in British Columbia after a penalty allowed Fiji to run a set play from a tap near midfield. Rebecca Tavo's run caught the Eagles on the back foot as she received the ball, and the Fijian reached over the try line to open the scoring at 5-0.
The Eagles sustained an attack in Fiji's half in the fourth minute following runs from Emily Azevedo - also in her first appearance on the circuit - and Kristen Thomas, with the former tackled high at the 22 for a penalty. Farmer finished off the attack with a run up the middle of the field, fending two tacklers to dot down for her first career try and 7-5 lead.
Farmer made sure the Eagles kept possession from the restart with a balancing act along the touch line, and another high tackle - this time on Thomas - resulted in a yellow card to Fiji's Miriama Naiobasali. Jessica Javelet followed Farmer on a run down the wing in the dying seconds of the half to receive an offload, and popped another out to Christy Ringgenberg for the veterans' first try since the 2013-14 season.
The 12-5 halftime lead was erased in the 10th minute after captain Bui Baravilala was sent to the bin for knocking down a pass chasing a Fiji break back towards her try line. A borderline-forward pass to Talica Vodo was cashed in on the player advantage to level the score at 12-12.
The U.S. defense held steady in the ensuing minutes as a chip kick in behind the defenders was recovered in-goal by Richelle Stephens. Baravilala conceded a penalty in the resulting set piece five meters from the try line, and a positive and negative turnover from Stephens preceded Alev Kelter finally wrangling possession. Victoria Folayan ran out of the defensive half before feeding Stephens on the wing to put the Eagles back into the lead at 19-12.
A few offloads involving veterans Folayan and Ringgenberg set up 21-year-old Heavirland for the match's final try to bring the winning margin to 12 points at 24-12.
The Eagles conclude pool play against reigning Series champion New Zealand Saturday at 6:12 p.m. PT. The live broadcast of Canada Women's Sevens is available on The Rugby Channel.
Women's Eagles Sevens | v. Fiji
2. Megan Bonny
4. Alev Kelter
5. Ryan Carlyle
8. Bui Baravilala (C)
10. Joanne Fa'avesi
11. Victoria Folayan
12. Jessica Javelet
Fiji | v. USA
1. Litia Naiqato
2. Jiowana Sauto
3. Talica Vodo
4. Matila Vitorina
5. Miriama Marawa
6. Rebecca Tavo
7. Rusila Nagasau
8. Merewai Cumu
9. Ana Maria Roqica (C)
10. Viniana Riwai
11. Miriama Naiobasali
12. Luisa Basei Tisolo
Women's Eagles Sevens | 24
Tries: Farmer, Ringgenberg, Stephens, Heavirland
Conversions: Baravilala (2)
Fiji | 12
Tries: Tavo, Vodo
Conversions: Riwai
Women's Eagles Sevens | HSBC Canada Women's Sevens
v. Spain - L 10-7
v. Fiji - W 24-12
v. New Zealand - Saturday, April 16 @ 6:12 p.m. PT
