Canada rout Ireland in Dublin

Canada continued their unbeaten 2016 with a one-sided 48-7 win over Ireland at the UCD Bowl in Dublin on Saturday afternoon. Three tries and 24 unanswered points in the first half set the stage for the dominant performance that saw Canada attack relentlessly throughout using both forward strength and guile in the backs.

The pressure came on early with strong phase play putting DaLeaka Menin in perfect strike range and the prop drove her way over from close range for the first try. Ireland managed to hold out for a time but after an Andrea Burk penalty goal the space appeared for Elissa Alarie to work a nifty gave-and-go with Julianne Zussman and the fullback finished for a lovely backs try.

It was back to the forwards for the next one and this time Laura Russell did the honors, crashing over from close range with the most unusual of celebrations. Such was the response it was difficult to decipher whether a try had been scored or a penalty, but the points were indeed on the board and Burk’s conversion made it 24-0 at the the break.

Ireland found some success shortly into the second half with standout flyhalf Nikki Caughey fighting her way to the line after a sustained attack, and her excellent conversion made it a full seven but bright moments were few and far between for the remainder of the match. Jacey Grusnick couldn’t quite make the corner on a huge break but the ball was recycled and spun left where Emily Belchos was waiting to seal the deal.

A yellow card to Lindsay Peat for repeat team infringements at the breakdown only made matters worse. With only 14 Irish defenders the extra space allowed Russell to land her second, again from close quarters, and then Magali Harvey showed her trademark finishing ability as she skipped inside her opposite with ease to score Canada’s sixth try. Zussman added one more for good measure to finish off the impressive display.

Canada now face the top-ranked New Zealand Black Ferns on Wednesday at Donnybrook in the second of their three-match tour that finishes at Twickenham on Saturday.

 

SCORING

IRELAND 7
Tries – N. Caughey (47′)
Cons – N. Caughey (48′)
Yellow cards – L. Peat (56′)

CANADA 48
Tries – D. Menin (7′), J. Zussman 2 (28′, 78′), L. Russell 2 (39′, 62′), E. Belchos (54′), M. Harvey (66′)
Cons – A. Burk 5 (8′, 29′, 40′, 63′, 67′)
Pens – A. Burk (25′)

 

TEAMS

IRELAND
1 Fiona Hayes 2 Zoe Grattage 3 Fiona Reidy 4 Katie Norris 5 Nichola Fryday 6 Ciara Cooney 7 Anna Caplice 8 Paula Fitzpatrick (capt.) 9 Mary Healy 10 Nikki Caughey 11 Alison Miller 12 Sene Naoupu 13 Nicole Fowley 14 Niamh Kavanagh 15 Mairead Coyne

16 Leah Lyons 17 Lindsay Peat 18 Ailis Egan 19 Elaine Anthony 20 Chloe Pearse 21 Larissa Muldoon 22 Jackie Shiels 23 Claire McLaughlin

CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen 2 Laura Russell 3 DaLeaka Menin 4 Latoya Blackwood 5 Kayla Mack 6 Jacey Grusnick 7 Karen Paquin 8 Kelly Russell (capt.) 9 Chelsea Guthrie 10 Emily Belchos 11 Magali Harvey 12 Andrea Burk 13 Alex Tessier 14 Elissa Alarie 15 Julianne Zussman

16 Gillian Boag 17 Olivia DeMerchant 18 Demi Stamatakis 19 Tyson Beukeboom 20 Barbara Mervin 21 Brianna Miller 22 Mackenzie Higgs 23 Brittany Waters

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Marie Lematte (FFR)
Assistants: Sara Cox (RFU) & Su Carty (IRFU)