10/30/2026 06:52:00
Printable Page
10/30 18:50 CDT England crushes US in WXV rugby as Moloney-MacDonald runs in 4
tries
England crushes US in WXV rugby as Moloney-MacDonald runs in 4 tries
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) --- World champion England defeated the United States 55-12
and winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four of their nine tries in WXV
women's rugby on Friday.
Historic beatings from Canada this month jeopardized England's nearly six-year
run as the No. 1 ranked side if it suffered a third straight defeat.
The U.S. brought confidence from five successive wins against South Africa,
Ireland, Wales and Italy (twice) for its best run in 20 years.
But the Eagles' threat passed just after halftime when Moloney-MacDonald
claimed her hat trick from a third straight miss-out pass by flyhalf Holly
Aitchison. Moloney-MacDonald strolled in untouched again for her fourth minutes
later after a superb pass from captain Meg Jones.
At that point the Red Roses had quickly turned a 17-7 halftime lead into 27-7.
England blew out the score in the last quarter as the U.S. defense tired. Tries
to winger Mia Venner, hooker Bryony Field, No. 8 Maddie Feaunati and flanker
Sadia Kabeya were all converted by Emma Sing or Zoe Harrison.
"When we got into our game we started keeping the ball, being patient and
everyone was a threat at the line," Jones said. "We became unstoppable."
___
See AP's full rugby coverage here
|
