Senior International Matches (Women)

Fri 28th February 2025   - KO  13:30 - Silver Bowl Park, Las Vegas
Official: John Ashton (England)

United States of America

46

FT

0

Half Time
34 - 0

Greece

Tries

Taylor White (26)
Haley Sheldon (14)
Cyndi Campbell (11)
Stacia Thompson (22)
Samantha Black-Keels (8)
Nicole Fisch (3,34,61,64)

Goals

Robyn Oliveri (1/2)

USA will host Greece for a women’s and men’s double header later today, Friday 28th February at Silver Bowl Park in Las Vegas.

The nations’ men’s sides were due to clash earlier this week, but the game was cancelled following an issue with the floodlights, which has also seen the kick off times moved for today’s games to 1.30pm (Women) and 3.30pm (Men) local time to accommodate the lighting.

Both games will be streamed live at NRL.com

Greece’s womens squad will be looking to return to winning games after a losing in a plucky performance against Ireland last October in Athens which saw them exit from the Rugby League World Cup Qualifying campaign and will potentially hand out five debuts for the game. 

“This is the first time that he have combined girls from all over the world. We have players coming from Greece, Australia, Wales and the USA,” said head coach Denis Lowe. “We have five girls making their international debut for Greece and we are looking forward to playing the USA for the first time.”

USA will also be looking to record a win after their loss to Canada in the Americas RLWC Qualifying tournament. The game will be an interesting test for the side who to date have only played Canada and Jamaica and will be exposed to a different style of play. Shannon Cross Hustosky, Lucinda Darvell and Erin Walsh are in line to make their debuts for the national team. 

"We are Looking forward to taking on Greece on Friday” added head coach Sean Rutgerson. “It’s the first game between our two countries and the first time we have staged a double header with the men for USARL. Both games should be great contests and we’re hoping to get a big crowd to come out and support us.”

USA Women
Shannon Cross Hustosky (East Palo Alto Razorbacks) Sarah Esther Anderson, Lucinda Darvell, Ashley Mencke (New York State Queens) Haley Sheldon, Taylor White (Jacksonville JaxAxe Women) Erin Walsh (LA Mongrel) Jeanna Beard, Bee Blackmon (San Diego Barracudas) Samantha Black, Rachael Bradley, Cynthia Campbell, Nicole Fisch, Narcisse Jordan, Robyn Oliveri, Kadie Sanford, Stacia Thompson (Tampa Mischief)

Greece Women
Angelina Ballas (North Sydney), Marilena Girlemi (Aris Eagles), Sam Glumac (Mounties), Stephanie Glumac (Mounties), Sofia Kitsaneli (Aris Eagles), Georgina Kalomenopoulou (Aris Eagles), Klaudia Koule (Athens Raiders), Rania Koutsikou (Cardiff Demons), Asimina Mastoraki (Aris Eagles), Nicola Munday (Brisbane Norths Rugby Union), Lisa Paloukis (West Belconnen), Ella Panagiotopoulos (Belconnen Sharks), Hayley Papa (Toukley), Effie Skouroliakou (Aris Eagles), Sotiria Skouroliakou (Aris Eagles), Maggie Stavrianou (Athens Raiders), Lavinia Taukamo (Redfern All Blacks), Meleanna Waters (Mascot), Eleni Zis (Atlanta Rhinos).

28 February 2025
Taylor White
Full Back
Asimina Mastoraki
Shannon Hustosky
Right Wing
Maggie Stavrianou
Haley Sheldon
Right Centre
Sam Glumac
Cyndi Campbell
Left Centre
Ourania Koutsikou
Stacia Thompson
Left Wing
Sotiria Skouroliakou
Robyn Oliveri
Stand Off
Angelina Ballas
Samantha Black-Keels
Scrum Half
Sophie Kitsaneli
Narcisse Jordan
Prop
Lavinia Taukamo
Nicole Fisch
Hooker
Meleanna Waters
Kadie Sandford
Prop
Marilena Girlemi
Jeanna Beard
Second Row
Lisa Poulakis
Rachael Bradley
Second Row
Stephanie Glumac
Esther Anderson
Loose Forward
Nicola Munday
Ashley Mencke
Int 1
Ella Panagiotopoulos
Lucinda Darvell
Int 2
Effie Skouroliakou
Bee Blackman
Int 3
Eleni Zis
Erin Walsh
Int 4
Claudia Koule

The female Hawks were dominant, running out 46-0 winners. The home side where in control from the start, scoring three tries in the opening 10 minutes from Nicola Fisch, Samantha Black-Keels and Cyndi Campbell.

Haley Sheldon was next to go over before Stacia Thompson's  try down the sideline in the 22nd minute had the USA up by 22 points to nil.

Taylor White then raced away to score between the posts before Fisch added her second when she scooted away from dummy-half to score.

Stand off Robyn Oliveri was spot on with the conversion to give the United States a commanding 34-0 lead at the break.

Greece had a golden opportunity to score their first try in the 53rd minute when a cross-field grubber kick was not taken clearly by at least four players.

Fisch crossed for another two tries for the USA to finish the scoring for the afternoon, her fourth a beautiful 40-metre run from dummy-half.

“It was the first time we had players from the domestic competition and from Australia mixing together,” said Greece coach Dennis Lowe.

“The girls are improving all the time and they never gave up. There are plenty of positives to take out of the game.”

28 February 2025