Canada improve but England win at The Stoop

The score was different but the result the same as England took a second decisive win over Canada in five days at The Stoop on Tuesday. Two tries each for Rachael Burford and Ellie Kildunne and eight in all made the final score 49-12. Single scores came from Heather Kerr, Danielle Waterman, Hannah Botterman, and Jo Brown, the latter on debut.

Waterman was standing in for Jess Breach who was forced to withdrew before kickoff. Canada had a late change of their own prior to the match. Emily Belchos was a late scratch with Nadia Popov stepping into the midfield and Emily Nicholl added to the bench.

While the disparity between the two sides remained considerable, Canada can take credit not only for seeing England’s total reduced by 30 points but also by holding their hosts off the scoreboard for the final 15 minutes of the match, a period when Canada score all of their points with tries to Janna Slevinsky and McKinley Hunt. For each it was their first senior international try.

Burford was a dominant figure for the Red Roses, deservedly named Player of the Match at its conclusion. Her strength in the midfield saw her bust through for a pair of tries and set a constant target for the forwards. Kildunne, only 18, also impressed in her first test start, with her tries both highlighting her electric pace.

Canada showed greater tenacity against their more experienced opponents, holding England to just three tries in the first half though they faded noticeably in the third quarter. The reserves made an impact, however, and the end of the will give the team some confidence heading into the third test.

The series wraps up on Saturday when the two sides meet again across the street at Twickenham, the home of England rugby. Theirs will be the second of an international double-header with England’s men hosting Manu Samoa in the opener.

 

SCORING

ENGLAND 49
Tries – H. Kerr (3′), R. Burford 2 (14′, 53′), E. Kildunne 2 (38′, 64′), D. Waterman (43′), H. Botterman (57′), J. Brown (61′)
Cons – A. Reed 2/6 (15′, 54′), Z. Harrison 1/2 (65′)
Pens – A. Reed 1/1 (8′)

CANADA 12
Tries – J. Slevinsky (74′), M. Hunt (80′)
Cons – B. Miller 1/2 (80′)

 

TEAMS

ENGLAND
1 Rochelle Clark, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Heather Kerr, 4 Catherine O’Donnell, 5 Tamara Taylor, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Katy Mclean, 11 Charlotte Clapp, 12 Amber Reed, 13 Rachael Burford, 14 Danielle Waterman, 15 Ellie Kildunne

Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Hannah Botterman, 19 Abbie Scott, 20 Izzy Noel-Smith, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Lagi Tuima

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laura Russell (capt.), 6 Pam Buisa, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Jess Neilson, 10 Anaïs Holly, 11 Emma Jada, 12 Nadia Popov, 13 Dria Bennett, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Brianna Miller

Replacements: 16 Alex Ellis, 17 Veronica Harrigan, 18 McKinley Hunt, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Janna Slevinsky, 21 Justine Pelletier, 22 Emily Nicholl, 23 Sam Alli

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistants: Alhambra Nievas (FER) & Tim Baker (HKRFU)