The Wallaroos have weathered a three-hour storm delay but could not handle the US team in Kansas City.
The Australian women’s team slumped to a second straight loss in the series, going down 33-12 to the Eagles after opening with a 24-0 loss to Canada.
They were on the wrong side of a 9-2 penalty count and weathered a yellow card to Maya Stewart after back-to-back infringements.
Even so, the Aussies were level when Captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona scored after a crafty 50/22 by Samantha Wood, only for Georgie Perris-Redding to hit back for the home side to lead 14-7 approaching the half-hour mark.
Desiree Miller kicked off the second half by getting the Wallaroos back within two, but from there it was all the Americans’ way as they added three more tries through Freda Tafuna, Emily Henrich and Hope Rogers (her second of the night).
Forward Kaitlan Leaney said watching the tornadoes « created some core memories » and the team had never started a Test match so late, with the scheduled kick-off of 8pm (local time) pushed back almost three hours to 10:45pm.
« I don’t think it impacted us too much, » Leaney said.
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« We’ve done some really good work as a group to be able to adapt to certain circumstances, so … we’re not using that as an excuse. »
Coach Sam Needs joked it was good to make history as perhaps the first Test to start on a Friday and end on a Saturday.
The game was also played at an historic venue at Berkley Riverfront Park.
The stadium was built to be the home of Women’s National Soccer League team Kansas City Current, making it the first purpose-built stadium for a women’s sporting team.
The Wallaroos are returning to Australia to complete the series with an Anzac Day clash with New Zealand at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Source:
www.abc.net.au
