United States 15 – Canada 10
Age old rivals met once again on the green field of Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario. Canada and the United States faced off for the fourth round of the 2009 Women’s Nations Cup.
With five minutes remaining in the match Canadian winger Tara Eckert of Calgary stormed down the left wing to score a crucial try – leaving the conversion for the potential lead. The kick – from Montrealer Julianne Zussman tracked slightly to the right, bouncing off the right upright to leave the two teams tied at 10-10.
Then with no time left on the clock a US counter attack saw American inside centre Emilie Bydwell scorch into the left corner for the try to give her team a 15-10 win.
It was a disappointing outcome for first year Canadian coach John Long.
“It was a tough game today. We gave them opportunities to score and they took it, said John Long. “This was a game we knew we could win and by all means, we should’ve won but they scored with a heartbreaker in the last minute.”
After Canada’s lack-lustre game against France on Sunday and the American’s celebratory first win, both teams came out strong.
Canada came out fiercely, attacking the opposing team immediately with endless drives. Shortly after the game started, a well-placed kick and quick hands helped advance the black-jerseyed Canucks to the American’s 22-yard line.
Ruck after ruck, the visiting team held strong near their dead zone before managing to get possession of the ball and push hard towards the other side.
A run by Brittany Waters quickly put the Canadian team back into U.S. territory, shortly succeeded by throw-in’s and scrums.
Soft hands by the American players led to a conversion, giving Canada possession of the ball once again. Waters made quick work of several American defenders to get the first try of the game.
The southern country proceeded to fight back, pushing against a black wall only to meet resistance.
A throw in by American flanker Mari Wallace as the first half ended fell neatly into the waiting arms of Canadian Kelly Russell who made quick work of moving the ball into safer territory and keeping the game at 5-0.
American Head Coach Kathy Flores felt her team were trying to lose the game. “It was like we were dropping all the balls that came to us, we were slow in our support coming over, Canada did a very good job at shutting us out in our own rucks half the time.”
The star spangled team came back in the second with a changed attitude, getting quicker to the ball and strengthening their rucks. It returned to a back-and-forth game, with U.S. pushing and Canada defending.
Determined to get a touch, American outside middle Amy Daniels drove past black jerseys to tie the match, as Stephanie Bruce put them ahead with a conversion kick between the posts.
Soft hands near the Canadian end raised the player’s frustrations and tensions started to mount. A swift kick by Bruce put the visiting team ahead at 10-5.
Roles reversed, the Canadian team mounted an attack to neutralize the score. Another failed throw-in put the ball into the hands of Russell, who pushed hard and gave the demoralizing team a boost of confidence.
As Russell made a lone run past the American defenders, she was supported by back Tara Eckert. A quick pass from Russell to Eckert as the two continued to run down the field, had Eckert speed down the side before touching between the two posts for the tie.
The last half of the second was loud. While the crowds cheered for their respective teams, the players on the field intensified the match. Quick hands by the American team put the ball into centre middle Emilie Bydwell’s hands who worked her way for the final touch of the game.
Finals of the Nations Cup will be held at Fletcher’s Field in Markham, On. U.S. plays France at 2 p.m., Canada plays England at 4 p.m.
