Latest news with #CaitlynHalse
ABC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Australia Wallaroos defeat USA 27-19 as American gets red card for head stomp
The Wallaroos have claimed their first win over the United States on home soil, with a 27-19 triumph in Canberra. Two tries to open side flanker Ashley Marsters guided Australia to the eight-point win, despite the best efforts from American prop Hope Rogers who scored a hat-trick for the Eagles. The Test match was soured when US inside centre Alev Kelter lost her cool and repeatedly stomped on the head of Wallaroo Georgina Friedrichs. Friedrichs was holding onto the bootlaces of Kelter, trying to complete a tackle, only for the American to stomp down on her head multiple times. Kelter was given a straight red card for the brain snap. The match was beyond doubt when Kelter was sent off in the 79th minute, with the Wallaroos outscoring the Americans four tries to three, claiming their first win in this year's Pacific Four Series. The defence of the Wallaroos, especially late on their goal line, proved crucial in the win. "We just kept fronting up, getting off the line [and] kept making our shorts tackles," Wallaroos fullback Caitlyn Halse said. "Very proud of the girls. We've been working on that all week." The Americans were the first to score, with Hope Rogers coming in from close range in the 15th minute, but Australia answered through winger Charlotte Caslick, scoring her first Test match try. A try to Marsters and prop Eva Karpani helped the Wallaroos to a 19-14 half-time lead. Both sides scored one try in the second half, with a penalty goal from Faitala Moleka extending the margin to eight points with 19 minutes to play. The Americans had the better of possession and territory throughout the whole match, but errors continued to hamper their momentum. The US conceded 17 penalties in the match, compared to just seven from Australia. "I think we were kind of our own worst enemy with some of our faults because we had some great moments of play," US star Ilona Maher said. "I feel like at times we did it to ourselves, but [there is] a lot to learn from." Australia will face Canada next Friday at Lang Park.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Record-breaking teen's timely return in Super semi
Caitlyn Halse is looking to make up for lost time after injury kept the NSW Waratahs young gun sidelined until Sunday's Super W semi-final against the Western Force. Halse had a record-breaking year in 2024, becoming the youngest debutant in Wallaroos or Wallabies Test history when at 17 she played fullback against USA during the Pacific Four series in May. At 17-years-old, last night Caitlyn Halse became the youngest-ever player to play a Test-match for Australia 👏Congratulations, Caitlyn 💚💛#Wallaroos — Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) May 18, 2024 She was nominated by World Rugby as a 2024 breakout player of the year and hoped to take her game to a new level ahead of this year's women's Rugby World Cup in England, starting in August. But Halse had to pump the brakes after injuring her quad then hamstring, meaning the speedster's first match of the year will be the Super W semi at Leichhardt Oval. Halse's Waratahs, who finished top of the ladder, are hosting the fourth-placed Force while the Reds came second and earned the right to host Fijian Drua in Sunday's early game. NSW are the reigning champions after downing the Drua 50-14 in last year's title decider, with winger Desiree Miller bagging a hat-trick. Halse started at fullback in that victory. "I was coming off a quad tear coming into the season and after a game at training I felt pain towards the bottom end of my knee," the 18-year-old told AAP. "The scans came back that I had a hammy tear so it wasn't the best of news coming into the season. "Last year was such a massive year and I was hoping to do the same again so it was quite frustrating when I found out I was going to miss most of the season." While NSW have never lost to the Force, they had to scramble to score a 79th minute try to secure a 26-21 victory in their round two meeting. Halse, who will start from the bench, said the Force, who recruited heavily in the off-season, were a danger team. "Our season didn't get off to the best of starts but I think we really learnt from our first game of the season and we've worked really hard and come together as a team, especially in the last few games. "The Force are definitely going to be a threat - they've got a couple of big names and some young stars coming up so they're a very solid team. "It's semi-finals and anything can happen, so hopefully we will put together a good performance at home, for us and for our fans, to go through to that grand final."
