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As expected, both the USA and Canada have officially secured their spots at the 2020 Olympics. The Women’s Eagles needed only play their opening match to earn the single point required to book their flight to Tokyo, while Canada punched their ticket by qualifying for the Cup Quarter Finals.
It was a perfect start to the tournament for the USA, who won all three pool matches to emerge as one of three unbeaten teams on Day One. Two tries from Kristen Thomas led the way in a big win over China, and it was Thomas again in the spotlight with a late try against Fiji to set up Nicole Heavirland’s match-winning conversion.
Game three was a comfortable result over hosts France, but it came with a cost. Two yellow cards saw Alev Kelter sent off, and the star playmaker will sit out the Quarter Final against Russia having been handed a one-game suspension as a result.
Canada started well with wins over Spain and Ireland to start their tournament. Four different players touched down against the Leonas, and there were two tries apiece for Kaili Lukan and Bianca Farella against the Irish.
Match three did not go their way, with the defending Olympic champions Australia proving too strong. Charlotte Caslick scored a hat-trick with Ellia Green getting a double. For Canada is was Farella and Charity Williams with singles. The Canadians now face France in the Quarter Finals.
Australia and New Zealand emerged as unbeaten from their pools with the later looking in confident form. Having all but clinched the overall series title, the black jerseys are now looking to tie their own record set in 2016-17 with a fifth event title of the season.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL A
England 10 – 17 Russia
New Zealand 44 – 7 Scotland
England 24 – 24 Scotland
New Zealand 31 – 0 Russia
Russia 31 – 15 Scotland
New Zealand 27 – 14 England
POOL B
Canada 22 – 19 Spain
Australia 27 – 5 Ireland
Canada 27 – 10 Ireland
Australia 31 – 14 Spain
Spain 12 – 10 Ireland
Australia 27 – 14 Canada
POOL C
USA 36 – 5 China
France 29 – 0 Fiji
USA 14 – 12 Fiji
France 36 – 0 China
Fiji 14 – 15 China
USA 19 – 7 France
DAY TWO FIXTURES
Sun, Jun 16 – 11:00 local / 05:00 ET – CUP QF – Australia vs Spain
Sun, Jun 16 – 11:22 local / 05:22 ET – CUP QF – USA vs Russia
Sun, Jun 16 – 11:44 local / 05:44 ET – CUP QF – Canada vs France
Sun, Jun 16 – 12:06 local / 06:06 ET – CUP QF – New Zealand vs China
Sun, Jun 16 – 12:28 local / 06:28 ET – CUP QF – England vs Ireland
Sun, Jun 16 – 12:50 local / 06:50 ET – CUP QF – Scotland vs Fiji
