Second half blitz sees Canada sweep Can-Am Series

The USA got off to a fast start but a poor second half cost them dearly as Canada took a handsome 52-27 result in San Diego on Sunday. It completes a very positive trip south for the Canadians, who swept the Can-Am Series by an aggregate score of 71-27 following their shutout win on Wednesday.

Bui Baravilala opened the scoring with a penalty goal and the dream start continued as Sarah Levy sped down the left wing for the first try. Baravilala nailed the extras and through 10 minutes the Women’s Eagles were up 10-nil.

Whatever was said under the posts by Canadian captain Olivia DeMerchant seemed to wake up the troops, and soon it was the skipper herself who crossed in the corner after some quality phase play. Brianna Miller was on target with the conversion and the gap was closed to three.

Levy was back in on the action for her second in support of a line break from Emily Henrich. The kick was no good, however, and within moments Canada were back on attack. Alysha Corrigan burst onto an offload and through a gap to make the corner for an unconverted try.

A lapse in concentration on the fringe opened the door for Canada to take the lead at the 35-minute mark. DaLeaka Menin slipped through and the front rower showed good awareness to reach out of Baravilala’s desperation tackle to give the visitors the go-ahead before halftime.

It was all downhill from there for the Eagles. Within 15 minutes of the restart Canada had tacked 21 points on the board. Gillian Boag went over out wide and then Taylor Black touched down near the posts with Miller adding both kicks. A pinched lineout ended with Sophie de Goede getting a try with Miller’s extras making it an even 40.

The USA finally got a response via Baravilala, who converted her own, but it was too little, too late. Tausani Levale went over and then Corrigan grabbed her double on a cross-kick despite being shorthanded with Courtney Holtkamp in the bin. Eagles captain Kate Zackary added a consolation score on full-time.

That wraps up the season for both teams though three players – Canada’s Brianna Miller and USA pair Ashley Byrge and Alycia Washington – will now jet off to Cardiff to play for the Barbarians against Wales next weekend. In the meantime the coaching staff will review and prepare for a big year with a little over a year-and-a-half to go until the World Cup in New Zealand.

 

SCORING

USA 27
Tries – S. Levy 2, B. Baravilala, K. Zackary
Cons – B. Baravilala 2
Pens – B. Baravilala

CANADA 52
Tries – O. DeMerchant, A Corrigan 2, D. Menin, G. Boag, T. Black, S. de Goede, T. Levale
Cons – B. Miller 5, I. Patrinos
Yellow cards – C. Holtkamp

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Nick James, 4 Kristine Sommer, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Nicole Strasko, 7 Kate Zackary (capt.), 8 Katie Johnson, 9 Carly Waters, 10 Bui Baravilala, 11 Sarah Levy, 12 Amy Naber-Bonté, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Jennine Duncan, 15 Leti Hingano

Replacements: 16 Joanna Kitlinski, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Frieda Fetu’u, 20 Rachel Johnson, 21 Ashlee Byrge, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Kaitlyn Broughton

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (capt.), 2 Gillian Boag, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 McKinley Hunt, 6 Sophie de Goede, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Fabiola Forteza, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Taylor Black, 11 Madison Grant, 12 Tausani Levale, 13 Alysha Corrigan, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Alex Tessier

Replacements: 16 Mackenzie Carson, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Mikiela Nelson, 19 Courtney Holtkamp, 20 Emma Taylor, 21 Marie-Pier Fauteaux, 22 Lori Josephson, 23 Irene Patrinos

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistants: Amber McLachlan (Australia) & AN Other (USA)