Maple Leafs drop second England match

Canada’s Maple Leafs women’s side dropped their second match to England Academy by 22-19 on Saturday, once again giving up a healthy lead in a frustrating second half that saw them go scoreless. The loss is disappointing but the overall tour will be deemed a success as several players put their hands up for senior selection and others gained invaluable experience against high level opposition.

Katie Svoboda put Canada on the board first as she followed up a clean break from Lori Josephson, with the conversion from Irene Patrinos making it a full seven. England replied with an unconverted effort, but Mackenzie Higgs crossed moments later after a turnover caused by a crunching Kristy Sargent tackle.

Poppy Cleall made it to the line to bring England back to within two until Josephson’s quick tap put Frederique Rajotte over in the corner. Patrinos slotted the extras to give Canada a nine point lead heading into the break. Unfortunately that spelled the end of the match for captain Cindy Nelles, who had to drop out with a knee injury.

A stalemate saw neither team score until the 68th minute, when England skipper Abbie Scott rumbled over with Tyson Beukeboom still serving the final moments of her sin bin. Scott made it a double just minutes later from close range after several phases wore down the defense.

The match concludes Canada’s women’s programme for 2015 and the planning now begins for an important year in 2016 that will culminate with a two-match tour to the UK in November.

ENGLAND ACADEMY 22
Tries – unknown (23), P. Cleall (32), A. Scott 2 (68, 72)
Cons – L. Cattell (73)

CANADA MAPLE LEAFS 19
Tries – K. Svoboda (15), M. Higgs (26), F. Rajotte (36)
Cons – I. Patrinos 2 (16, 37)
Yellow cards – T. Beukeboom (58)

ENGLAND ACADEMY
1 Heather Kerr 2 Lark Davies 3 Bianca Dawson 4 Alexandra Powell 5 Courtney Gill 6 Poppy Cleall 7 Poppy Leitch 8 Abbie Scott (capt.) 9 Bianca Blackburn 10 Natasha Jones 11 Lotte Clapp 12 Lauren Cattell 13 Lucy Demaine 14 Deborah Fleming 15 Kelly Smith

16 Clara Nielson 17 Katie Trevarthen 18 Roz Jermine 19 Zoe Aldcroft 20 Joanna Brown 21 Leanne Riley 22 Rachel Lund 23 Georgia Gray

CANADA MAPLE LEAFS
1 Simone Savary 2 Kristy Sargent 3 Chelsey Minter 4 Janai Haupapa 5 Tyson Beukeboom 6 Fabiola Forteza 7 Katie Svoboda 8 Cindy Nelles (capt.) 9 Lori Josephson 10 Mackenzie Higgs 11 Emma Jada 12 Alex Tessier 13 Amanda Williams 14 Frédérique Rajotte 15 Irene Patrinos

16 Brittany Priddle 17 Demi Stamatakis 18 DaLeaka Menin 19 Camille Provençal-Aubé 20 Gabrielle Senft 21 Chelsea Guthrie 22 Jess Neilson 23 Natasha Smith