Canada hold on to edge Scotland in Glasgow thriller

It was far from easy but Canada ended their four-match European tour with a win over Scotland, the final score 28-25 to the visitors after an absorbing game at Scotstoun Stadium. Canada were heavy favorites going in to the Tuesday night fixture but in the end were well and truly tested, doing just enough to hold off a Scottish team determined to cause a famous upset.

Scotland got on the board first with a Helen Nelson penalty goal but Canada wasted no time in putting it behind them. Just a couple minutes later the forwards worked their way into position and Olivia DeMerchant crashed over. Brianna Miller’s conversion was on target.

Canada spent the best part of the next 15 minutes in Scottish territory but the defense held strong until at last the line broke. The forwards did the hard yards and then a wide ball ended with a nifty give-and-go between Tausani Levale and Janna Slevinsky. Levale took the the return pass and squeezed through three defenders to make the line.

There would be no coasting to the break however. Scotland won a turnover and after Jade Konkel made inroads quick hands found Abi Evans in just enough space to make the corner. A second try came in added time. Canada conceded a penalty and this time it was Megan Kennedy who tore through the line with Konkel smashing through two defenders to score.

A quick try to start the second half got Canada back on track. The scrum earned a penalty and Cindy Nelles went quick, coming up just short only to have Tyson Beukeboom on her heels to pick and drive for the score. Irene Patrinos took over the kicking duties and duly converted her first test points.

The scrum dominance continued for Canada but discipline cost them possession and field position. Scotland’s forwards won the lineout and drove to within scoring distance. A couple short pick-and-drives later it was the unlikely figure of midfielder Lisa Thomson popping up at the ruck to reach across the line for a try to make it a one-point game.

Without a moment’s pause Canada pushed back out in front. Nelles took a Maude Laliberté offload inside the Scottish 22 and before long Slevinsky sliced through a door left open too long. Patrinos added the extras to give Canada an 8-point lead at the hour mark.

Taking a page from their opponents’ book, Scotland fired back with a try of their own. Emma Wassell got under the post defense to make for a nervous finale. Another score nearly came for Chloe Rollie but Patrinos cut down her opposite just a meter short to save a certain try, and then Nelles dislodged the ball from Konkel’s hands with the line at her mercy.

The Scots kept the foot on the pedal, however, and eventually a penalty opportunity came for Thomson to level the scores from straight in front of the posts. Perhaps it was the pressure, but the 21-year-old captain somehow pushed the kick wide left and Canadian shoulders relaxed.

That would be the last opportunity as the Canadian pack controlled the ball long enough for a relieved Alex Tessier to fire it into touch and end the game. Canada return home with three wins from four and have France to aim for in 2019 to reach third on the World Rankings.

 

SCORING

SCOTLAND 25
Tries – A. Evans (32′), J. Konkel (40′), L. Thomson (56′), E. Wassell (63′)
Cons – H. Nelson 0/1, L. Martin 1/3 (40′)
Pens – H. Nelson 1/1 (2′), L. Thomson 0/1

CANADA 28
Tries – O. DeMerchant (4′), T. Levale (20′), T Beukeboom (44′), J. Slevinsky (59′)
Cons – B. Miller 2/2 (5′, 21′), I. Patrinos 2/2 (45′, 60′)

 

TEAMS

SCOTLAND
1 Lisa Cockburn, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Megan Kennedy, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Nicola Howat, 6 Siobhan Cattigan, 7 Rachael McLachan, 8 Jade Konkel, 9 Mhairi Grieve, 10 Lisa Martin, 11 Abi Evans, 12 Helen Nelson, 13 Lisa Thomson (capt.), 14 Lauren Harris, 15 Chloe Rollie

Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Siobhan McMillan, 18 Mairi Forsyth, 19 Lucy Winter, 20 Louise McMillan, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Bry Nelson, 23 Annabel Sergeant

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Laura Russell (capt.), 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 4 Ngalula Fuamba, 5 Tyson Beukeboom, 6 Sara Svoboda, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Alex Tessier, 11 Emily Samek, 12 Tausani Levale, 13 Anaïs Holly, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Irene Patrinos

Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Maude Laliberté, 18 DaLeaka Menin, 19 Abby Duguid, 20 Chanelle Edwards-Challenger, 21 Lori Josephson, 22 Paige Farries, 23 Elissa Alarie

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR)
TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)

 

Attendance: 2,457