Canada defeats Italy in long-awaited return home

Canada celebrated their return home with a well-earned 34-24 win over Italy at Starlight Stadium on Sunday. It was the first test on home soil for the national senior women’s side since July 2015. A strong display from the forwards set the platform for the five-tries-to-four victory over the Azzurre.

The visitors were under pressure from the kickoff. Though they managed to foil one attack, the Canadians kept the pressure on and then turned down a shot a goal for a 5-meter scrum. Sophie de Goede was stopped just short but Brianna Miller fired a flat pass to an unmarked Paige Farries to score in the corner. Miller’s kick bounced off the upright and the flags stayed down.

Poor defense handed the points straight back to Italy. A long clearance kick looked to have pinned the Azzurre inside their own 22, but a quick throw-in to Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi gave the fullback room to run, and she sliced through a gap before showing a clean pair of heels to the cover on a scorching 75-meter solo effort. Michela Sillari was on target with the extras to nudge the Italians ahead.

The home side composed themselves and moved back into scoring position. Quick hands from de Goede put Sara Kaljuvee over for a second try, with Miller this time connecting to make it a full seven.

Italy dominated territory for the remainder of the half and though the Canadians defended valiantly, eventually a miss-out pass from Beatrice Rigoni found Beatrice Veronese in space. The flanker offloaded to Maria Magatti in close support to draw the scores level at halftime.

Not long after the restart the restart the Canuck forwards flexed their muscle with a try to Emily Tuttosi via the driving maul. Soon after Kaljuvee broke free and chipped ahead, the ball rolling in-goal for a drop-out. Italy’s kick went straight into touch and from the resulting scrum de Goede had the simplest of finishes to give the home side a commanding 26-12 lead.

A long flowing attack from the Italians put the Canadian defense on the back foot just before the hour mark. Aura Muzzo came in from her opposite wing and nearly scored herself, and Sara Tounesi was there to roll through the tackle of Sabrina Poulin for the try.

The two sides exchanged tries in the final quarter. Julia Schell attacked the blindside and Farries was there in close support to pick and dive over the line for a double. At the other end an overthrow at the lineout gave Elisa Giordano a try, with Sillari’s conversion closing the gap to just one score.

That would be as close as the visitors would come. A penalty goal from de Goede in the 78th minute put the game beyond reach, and the Canadian pack ground down the final moments of the game.

There will be one last warm-up for the Canadians before departing to New Zealand, with Wales their opposition in Halifax on August 27. After waiting over 30 years to play for a second time, Canada and Italy will square off again at the World Cup in October.

 

SCORING

CANADA 34
Tries – P. Farries 2 (7′, 64′), S. Kaljuvee (19′), E. Tuttosi (44′), S. de Goede (49′)
Cons – B. Miller 3/5 (20′, 45′, 50′)
Pens – S. de Goede 1/1 (78′)

ITALY 24
Tries – V. Ostuni Minuzzi (10′), M. Magatti (40’+2′), S. Tounesi (58′), E. Giordano (74′)
Cons – M. Sillari 2/4 (11′, 75′)

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 Brittany Kassil 55′), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Gillian Boag 66′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Maya Montiel 66′), 4 Emma Taylor, 5 Tyson Beukeboom (19 McKinley Hunt 45′), 6 Courtney Holtkamp (21 Gabrielle Senft 71′), 7 Fabiola Forteza (20 Karen Paquin 60′), 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Brianna Miller (22 Justine Pelletier 66′), 10 Julia Schell, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Sara Kaljuvee, 13 Maddy Grant (23 Alex Tessier 55′), 14 Sabrina Poulin, 15 Elissa Alarie

ITALY
1 Silvia Turani (18 Sara Seye 71′), 2 Melissa Bettoni (16 Vittoria Vecchini 71′), 3 Lucia Gai (17 Gaia Maris HT), 4 Sara Tounesi (19 Valeria Fedrighi 61′), 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 7 Beatrice Veronese (20 Giada Franco 66′), 8 Elisa Giordano (capt.), 9 Sofia Stefan (21 Francesca Granzotto 71′), 10 Veronica Madia (22 Alyssa D’Incà 71′), 11 Maria Magatti (23 Manuela Furlan 59′), 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 13 Michela Sillari, 14 Aura Muzzo, 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistants: Julianne Zussman (Canada) & Kat Roche (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)