Canada recover from slow start to beat Australia

Canada overcame a slow start to come away with a 22-10 win over Australia in Auckland on Friday. Rain fell throughout, heavily in the first half, and resulted in several handling errors from both sides while a high penalty count also contributed to stop-start action.

The Wallaroos shocked the Canucks with the first try scored with under four minutes on the clock. Lori Cramer’s chip kick in behind the defense was claimed by Layne Morgan. A penalty yielded an attacking lineout and Ashley Marsters was driven over with Cramer adding the extras.

Cramer would add a three-pointer to make it a double-digit lead. The Canadians regrouped and pushed into Australian territory but time and again they could not find their way through. Sophie de Goede knocked on with the line at her mercy and DaLeaka Menin was initially held up in-goal, and then ruled to have lost possession while attempting to ground the ball.

At last the Canadians got on the board just ahead of halftime. Repeat infringements conceded a lineout in scoring position and this time the drive was unstoppable with Emily Tuttosi getting credit for the try. de Goede slotted the conversion from a tricky angle to make it 10-7 at the intermission.

The rain let up slightly to start the second half and Canada immediately pushed into Australian territory. An attacking scrum wheeled and the ball popped out but de Goede snatched it up and popped to Justine Pelletier, the diminutive halfback sliding over for the score. The conversion attempt from nearly straight in front sliced off the side of de Goede’s boot.

Replacements streamed into the match and Australia took a slight edge in the scrum, but the Canadian pack remained in command elsewhere. More penalties conceded earned a third warning for Australia but still no card. de Goede settled for a shot at goal to make it a five-point game.

At last the referee pulled the yellow from her pocket and Madison Schuck was dispatched to the bin. Canada won a scrum penalty and then went to the lineout. After a few phases Alex Ellis barged over to put the result beyond doubt. The conversion from de Goede brought an end to the scoring.

 

SCORING

AUSTRALIA 10
Tries – A. Marsters (4′)
Cons – L. Cramer 1/1 (5′)
Pens – L. Cramer 1/1 (12′)
YC – M. Schuck (71′)

CANADA 22
Tries – E. Tuttosi (39′), J. Pelletier (45′), A. Ellis (77′)
Cons – S. de Goede 2/3 (40′, 78′)
Pens – S. de Goede 1/1 (64′)

 

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA
1 Liz Patu (17 Madison Schuck 52′), 2 Ashley Marsters, 3 Bridie O’Gorman (18 Eva Karpani 52′), 4 Michaele Leonard, 5 Kaitlan Leaney (19 Sera Naiqama 52′), 6 Piper Duck (1 Liz Patu 74′), 7 Shannon Parry (capt.), 8 Grace Hamilton (20 Grace Kemp 52′), 9 Layne Morgan (21 Iliseva Batibasaga 52′), 10 Arabella McKenzie, 11 Lori Cramer, 12 Cecilia Smith (22 Trilleen Pomare 52′), 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Jemima McCalman (23 Mahalia Murphy 57′), 15 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale

Not used: 16 Tiarna Molloy

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 Brittany Kassil 49′), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Laura Russell 58′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Alex Ellis 58′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom (19 Emma Taylor 46′), 5 Abby Duguid (20 McKinley Hunt 46′), 6 Gabrielle Senft (21 Sara Svoboda 66′), 7 Pamphinette Buisa, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Justine Pelletier (22 Brianna Miller 59′), 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Alex Tessier (23 Maddy Grant 68′), 13 Sara Kaljuvee, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Elissa Alarie

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Assistants: Sara Cox (England) & Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)