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England’s used brute force to overcome the Canadian challenge at Doncaster on Sunday, the final score 27-19 in favor of the hosts. While the result didn’t quite go their way, the Canadian staff will be very pleased with the effort having suffered three lopsided defeats to England just a year ago.
It was the strength and technical superiority of the English pack that proved decisive. Lark Davies came away with two near-identical tries on the back of driving mauls on the 10 and 20 minute marks. The only difference in the third try was the name of the scorer, Poppy Cleall getting the honors to make it 15-0.
Canada made the most of a late scoring opportunity with a try. Laura Russell’s offload put Olivia DeMerchant through the line and when England were penalized for cynically killing the ball, Russell ordered a scrum. After Cindy Nelles crashed ahead from the scrum, Anaïs Holly saw open space and her cross kick bounced kindly for Alex Tessier to touch down.
The second half was a stalemate until a dramatic moment brought Canada to within one score. England attacked wide but the final pass from Sarah McKenna found Elissa Alarie instead Millie Wood. The fullback turned on the jets and raced 90 meters down the pitch, swerving out of Kelly Smith’s last-gasp tackle attempt to make the corner.
Smith would have her say at the other end of the pitch, however. With the game winding down the forwards put in the hard yards and quick hands from Rachael Burford put the left wing into the corner. Abbie Scott would add another try from close range after repeated phases from England.
There would be just enough time for Canada to close the deficit to single digits. Replacement lock Ngalula Fuamba bulldozed her way to within millimeters of the line, and Courtney Holtkamp arrived to get it the rest of the way. Magali Harvey added the extras to bring down the curtains on a competitive match.
Canada will play a select side against England Academy at Cobham on Wednesday.
SCORING
ENGLAND 27
Tries – L. Davies 2 (10’, 20’), P. Cleall (26’), K. Smith (70’), A. Scott (76’)
Cons – K. Daley-Mclean (77’)
CANADA 19
Tries – A. Tessier (40’), E. Alarie (60’), C. Holtkamp (80’)
Cons – B. Miller (40’), M. Harvey (80’)
TEAMS
ENGLAND
1 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Lark Davies, 3 Hannah Botterman, 4 Catherine O’Donnell, 5 Abbie Scott, 6 Poppy Cleall, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Kelly Smith, 12 Rachael Burford, 13 Lucy Attwood, 14 Millie Wood, 15 Sarah McKenna
Replacements: 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Ellena Perry, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Zoe Aldcroft, 20 Jo Brown, 21 Claudia MacDonald, 22 Katy Daley-Mclean, 23 Carys Williams
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Laura Russell (capt.), 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Anaïs Holly, 11 Sabrina Poulin, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Marie Thibault, 14 Magali Harvey, 15 Elissa Alarie
Replacements: 16 Mackenzie Carson, 17 Veronica Harrigan, 18 Maude Laliberté, 19 Ngalula Fuamba, 20 Sara Svoboda, 21 Lori Josephson, 22 Taylor Black, 23 Irene Patrinos
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
Assistants: Laure Pettingale (RFU) & Katherine Ritchie (RFU)
TMO: Éric Gauzins (FFR)
