| USA (7) 14 |
| Tries: Jacoby, Stathopoulos Cons: Cantorna, Feury |
| Scotland (17) 24 |
| Tries: McGhie, Wassell, Lloyd, Rollie Cons: Nelson, Smith |
Scotland continued their perfect start to their WXV2 campaign with a comfortable win over the USA.
First-half tries from Francesca McGhie, Emma Wassell and Rhona Lloyd gave the Scots a commanding 17-point lead, before Charli Jacoby hit back.
Chloe Rollie crossed to earn Scotland a bonus point, and although Paige Stathopoulos scored for the USA, a comeback never looked likely.
The win in Cape Town is a fifth victory in a row for Bryan Easson’s side.
Scotland now top the table with 10 points from their two games, and face Japan next on 27 October (13:00 BST).
It was a stop-start affair to begin with as both sides struggled to find their rhythm in windy conditions, but when Scotland did click into gear, McGhie opened the scoring with an excellent try.
Having been found in space down the left, she stepped off her right foot, leaving Bulou Mataitoga in her wake before dotting down in the corner.
Wassell then crashed over after a strong Scottish lineout, before Lloyd showed all her speed to score in the corner after some slick hands in midfield.
The win was far from a procession, though. USA had plenty of possession, but were unable to find the telling pass until the final stages of the first half, when Jacoby went over off the back of a powerful maul.
After the break, Scotland had the wind against them but stood up superbly in defence, winning multiple turnovers and dominating the scrum.
Rollie’s try wrapped up a deserved bonus point for Scotland, who could have scored more on another day.
Stathopoulos took advantage of a rare Scottish defensive lapse to make the scoreboard look slightly better for the USA, but it proved to be mere consolation for the team ranked two places above the victors.
What they said:
Player of the match Evie Gallagher: “Very physical. There was a big focus on our defence – we wanted to take it to them and I think the team really stepped up today.
“I’m feeling it a little bit, but I’m just really happy for the girls.”
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson: “Really proud of the girls. We’ve got some momentum, and today we were outstanding defensively.
“We came up against a really physical side who brought it to us, and the amount we turned them over, I couldn’t be prouder of this group.”
Line-ups
USA: Mataitoga, Feury, Zackary (capt), Hingano, Clapp, Cantorna, Waters; Benson, Treder, Jacoby, Taufoou, Jarrell, Tafuna, Brody, Johnson.
Replacements: Stathopoulos, Tupou, Sagapolu, Kronish, Ehrecke, Tukuafu, Howard, Czaplicki
Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, McDonald; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, McMillan, Malcolm (capt), McLachlan, Gallagher.
Replacements: Martin, Young, Cockburn, Donaldson, Konkel-Roberts, Mattinson, Smith, Musgrove.
Referee: Clara Munarini