The USA Women's National team defeated England A 25-24 Tuesday at Newbury RFC.

The Eagles fell behind early against what was billed as England's National Academy side, but clawed their way back. England took an early 14-3 lead thanks to tries from Bryony Cleall and Georgina Lingham, each converted by Ellie Green. 

See USA vs England Test Match On-Demand

In answer, Megan Foster slotted a penalty goal, and then wing Evan Hoese then jinked through for the first American try, which Foster converted, and then with four minutes remaining Lingham was sent to the bin for an illegal tackle. Immediately the visitors took advantage, with flanker Joyce Taufa going over as part of a pile of players.

That made it 15-14 for the USA at halftime.

England got back in front through Underwood, who went over in the corner to make it 19-15. Hoese scored in similar fashion to regain the lead for the USA, and then center Cortney Kuehl race through a gap to make it 25-19.

England bashed at the USA line for the final ten minutes, and while the English did eventually score, it took them way too long. Hannah West went over, but Green could not make the conversion and the USA held on.

The England squad combined a mix of pathway players and more established names and were captained by Richmond lock Rowena Burnfield, one of five players with senior international experience. The USA squad was similar, perhaps even less experienced. Lock Alycia Washington was the most capped at 16, with almost all the rest being capped less than five times, and several with zero.

USA head coach Rob Cain said this was “a great opportunity for our players to use this game as a platform for their inclusion in our final test against Ireland this Sunday. The tour has been set at a ferocious pace and it has been great to have the players for 12 days now. Their work rate and attitude have been first class and we are all excited to see them continue to raise the bar from our last match."

"I’m really proud of the girls though, they’ve had one training session together and it’s been good to get them together," said England head coach Simon Middleton. "There were some really strong individual performances and collectively they came together well in periods during the game. We dominated the set piece, but US were slightly better conditioned than us and looked like they had played together more."

USA Women’s Selects Starting Roster 

USA Women’s Selects Reserves 

England A Lineup

15. Olivia Jones (Loughborough Lightning), 14. Ellie Underwood (Gloucester-Hartpury), 13. Shauna Bennett (Gloucester-Hartpury)*, 12. Lauren Cattell (Saracens)**, 11. Georgie Lingham (Saracens), 10. Ellie Green (Harlequins)*, 9. Megan Davey (Loughborough Lightning)*; 1. Bryony Cleall (Saracens), 2. Clara Nielson (Bristol Bears Women), 3. Sasha Acheson (Gloucester-Hartpury)**, 4. Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC)** ©, 5. Rosie Galligan (Saracens), 6. Katherine Hobson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 7. Poppy Leitch (Bristol Bears Women)**, 8. Elizabeth Crake (Wasps FC Ladies).

Replacements: 16. Hannah West (Wasps FC Ladies), 17. Detysha Harper (Firwood Waterloo Ladies)*, 18. Chloe Edwards (Harlequins), 19. Amelia Buckland-Hurry (Bristol Bears Women), 20. Rownita Marston (Bristol Bears Women), 21. Caity Mattinson (Bristol Bears Women)**, 22. Beth Blacklock (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 23. Merryn Doidge (Bristol Bears Women)*.