The USA Eagles Women beat the Springbok Women at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday to share the two-Test series.
The visitors won 26-19 having led 14-12 at half-time.
South Africa, who won the first Test at Ellis Park last week, were unable to complete a historic series victory as a determined USA side capitalised on too many errors from the hosts.
Both teams struggled for accuracy in a scrappy opening quarter, with handling mistakes and breakdown penalties disrupting the flow.
The USA dominated territory early but failed to convert several promising opportunities before prop Hope Rogers eventually crashed over from close range after sustained pressure. Bella Vogel converted to make it 7-0.
The Bok Women responded in style when left wing Alichia Arries beat three defenders to score under the posts, with right wing Jakkie Cilliers levelling the scores.
The visitors struck back soon afterwards. Cilliers appeared to have run the length of the field after collecting a loose ball near her own line, but the TMO ruled that Rogers had grounded the ball first for her second try. Vogel’s conversion restored a seven-point lead.
The Bok Women hit back before the break when Micke Gunter finished off a series of powerful forward carries, leaving the USA Women 14-12 ahead at half time.
The Eagles started the second half strongly as wing Telesi Uhatafe sliced through to score under the posts, extending the lead to 21-12.
The Bok Women then suffered another setback when No 8 Logan Welman was yellow-carded, although fullback Eloise Webb produced a superb try-saving tackle to deny Uhatafe a second.
The hosts battled hard but continued to concede costly breakdown penalties, wasting several attacking opportunities.
Uhatafe eventually claimed her second try after chasing down a clever kick ahead to give the USA a 26-12 advantage.
Centre Ayanda Malinga sparked late hope with a superb break that led to a converted try under the posts, reducing the deficit to seven points, but the Bok Women could not find a decisive score in the closing stages as the USA squared the series.
SPRINGBOK WOMEN – Tries: Alichia Arries, Micke Gunter, Ayanda Malinga. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (2).
USA WOMEN – Tries: Hope Rogers (2), Telesi Uhatafe (2). Conversions: Bella Vogel (3).
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post USA bounce back against Bok Women appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The USA Eagles Women beat the Springbok Women at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday to share the two-Test series.
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