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Canada brought the curtains down on their 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign on a winning note as they defeated Australia by a comfortable score of 43-12 at Queen’s University in Belfast on Saturday afternoon. Two early scores from Australia put some doubt in the heavily-favored Canadians, but the final score left no doubt as to who was the superior side.
Australia got the first shot in when Sarah Riordan bundled over from sustained goal-line pressure. Canada switched to attack mode and a fortuitous bounce landed in hands of Julianne Zussman for an equal response. The Wallaroos were on their toes, however, and Liz Patu snuck under the defense from more forward pressure to restore the lead for the underdogs.
It was early doors yet, however, and Canada had gears yet to turn up. Despite being only 20 minutes into the match that would be the final say for the Australians. Amanda Thornborough finished off a multi-phase move after the defense was stretched, and Elissa Alarie crossed in similar fashion soon after.
Now under pressure the Australian discipline started to crumble and Rebecca Clough was binned for dangerous tackle. Karen Paquin scored another cracking individual try as she skated through just before another yellow was brandished, this time to Patu for a stamp that was woefully short of subtlety.
Zussman crossed for her second after some lovely interplay with Alarie and Paquin, and then Kelly Russell touched down after the dominant Canadian scrum walked the Wallaroos back over their tryline from a 5 metre scrum. The final say went to Alarie, who matched Zussman’s double after another Paquin break and a miss pass from Thornborough.
So closes a chapter for the Canadian women who despite finishing 5th overall can take pride in knowing that their only defeat was to New Zealand. For several players this will be their last match wearing the Maple Leaf and this is certainly head coach François Ratier’s last match in charge of the team, though a move elsewhere within Rugby Canada may yet come to fruition in the coming days.
SCORING
AUSTRALIA 12
Tries – S. Riordan (3’), L. Patu (20’)
Cons – A. Hewson (4’)
Yellow cards – R. Clough (30’), L. Patu (36’), C. Campbell (63’)
CANADA 43
Tries – J. Zussman 2 (10’, 50’), A. Thornborough (26’), E. Alarie 2 (30’, 72’), K. Paquin (35’), K. Russell (64’)
Cons – B. Miller 2 (11’, 31’), A. Burk 2 (64’, 73’)
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA
1 Liz Patu (16 Louise Burrows 76’), 2 Cheyenne Campbell (17 Emily Robinson 74’), 3 Hilisha Samoa, 4 Rebecca Clough (19 Mollie Gray 48’ {17 Emily Robinson 63’-74’}), 5 Alisha Hewett (20 Kate Brown 74’), 6 Millie Boyle, 7 Chloe Butler, 8 Grace Hamilton (18 Hana Ngaha 38’-48’), 9 Katrina Barker (21 Fenella Hake 74’), 10 Ashleigh Hewson, 11 Mahalia Murphy, 12 Sharni Williams (capt.), 13 Sarah Riordan (22 Kayla Sauvao 24’), 14 Nareta Marsters (23 Trilleen Pomare 56’), 15 Samantha Treharne
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen (17 Brittany Kassil 56’), 2 Laura Russell (16 Jane Kirby 56’), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Olivia DeMerchant HT), 4 Cindy Nelles, 5 Latoya Blackwood (19 Kayla Mack 7’), 6 Jacey Grusnick (20 Barb Mervin 56’), 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Brianna Miller (21 Chelsea Guthrie 60’), 10 Alex Tessier, 11 Elissa Alarie, 12 Emily Belchos (22 Andrea Burk 30’), 13 Amanda Thornborough, 14 Magali Harvey (23 Brittany Waters 63’), 15 Julianne Zussman
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistants: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) & Marie Lematte (FFR)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)
