Comfortable win for Canada in Coventry

Canada’s final tune-up ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers came off without a hitch on Monday evening as they defeated Coventry 35-12 in front of a healthy crowd at Butts Park. The RFU Championship side ran out nearly 30 players all told, using the match to test fringe first-teamers while Canada’s team was much closer to their projected starters against Kenya on Sunday.

The opening half saw Canada overwhelm their hosts in the forward pack. Repeat phases from in tight ended with Ray Barkwill crossing for the first of five tries. Theo Sauder was stopped by some desperate Coventry defense and they soon turned it around, with their own hooker Phil Nilsen getting the credit for a score after a lineout drive.

Two tries would then come in quick succession for Canada. Tyler Ardron powered over for the first with Nick Blevins finding a hole in the midfield for the second. Coventry somehow managed to hold out to the break as Canadian international Robbie Povey, looking to impress Kingsley Jones in Coventry colors, made a try-saving tackle on Ben LeSage to prevent a certain score on the overlap.

A simple finish for Kainoa Lloyd would come almost immediately after the second half restart. DJ Sears-Duru sent the Coventry defense backwards and quick hands found Lloyd wide open on the wing. The fifth try would be of the penalty variety from a collapsed maul.

To Coventry’s credit they would shut the Canadians out in the final half-hour, the replacements struggling to live up to the standards set by the starters. Replacement fullback Louis Roach stepped his way over for a consolation score much to the approval of the Coventry faithful.

All eyes are now on the Repechage competition which begins on Sunday. Canada’s World Cup hopes rest on success, their first test against Kenya on Sunday in Marseille.

 

SCORING

COVENTRY 12
Tries – P. Nilsen (16’), L. Roach (74’)
Cons – J. Sharp 0/1, B. Palmer 1/1 (75’)

CANADA 35
Tries – R. Barkwill (5’), T. Ardron (21’), N. Blevins (24’), K. Lloyd (42’), Penalty try (52’)
Cons – G. McRorie 4/4 (6’, 22’, 25’, 43’)
Yellow cards – K. Lloyd (78’)

 

TEAMS

COVENTRY
1 Nathaniel Titchard-Jones, 2 Phil Nilsen, 3 Biyi Alo, 4 Scott Russell, 5 Cameron Gray, 6 Kailus Hutchinson, 7 Jack Preece, 8 Ben Adams, 9 Will Flinn, 10 Jake Sharp, 11 Kwaku Asiedu, 12 Dan Lewis, 13 Rob Knox, 14 Junior Bulumakau, 15 Robbie Povey

Replacements: 16 Samson Ma’asi, 17 Jack Higgins, 18 Luc Jeannot, 19 Ben Gulliver, 20 Fred Betteridge, 21 Sam McNulty, 22 Olly Povoas, 23 Latu Maka’afi, 24 David Brazier, 25 Ben Palmer, 26 Louis Roach, 27 Max Titchener, 28 Joe Lane, 29 James Stokes

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Kyle Baillie, 5 Evan Olmstead, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Gordon McRorie, 11 Matt Evans, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Theo Sauder

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Brett Beukeboom, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Doug Fraser

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Aled Liddington (WRU)

 

Attendance: 1,451