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Canada coasted to a 31-3 win over a largely second-string Wales at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax on Saturday. A masterclass in the scrum set the platform and Wales had no answer to a stifling defense.
Jasmine Joyce made an early impact, sending the Canadians back to their own goal line with a scything run. The defense held enough but conceded a penalty, which Elinor Snowsill duly sent through the uprights to put Wales on the board first.
The Canadian pack began to take charge with the Welsh scrum retreating at a rate of knots. A collapse won advantage but it wasn’t needed as Paige Farries came in off her wing and crashed over for the try. Brianna Miller had no trouble converting to make it a full seven.
Just a couple minutes later Canada were knocking on the door again. Karen Paquin won a turnover at the breakdown, and the forwards drove ahead through the maul. When it was stopped short Fabiola Forteza picked and powered over for try number two. Miller’s kick was wide of the mark this time.
Inaccuracy saw the Canadians squander attacking opportunities but they regained their focus and scored a cracking set piece try before halftime. From a lineout they attacked the midfield, then pulled it back to the right side where Maddy Grant was waiting with open arms to sprint home from XX meters. Sophie de Goede stepped in to attempt the sideline conversion which had the distance but rang off post.
The Welsh were immediately under pressure to start the second half, and there was no escape. After the forwards sucked in the defense Farries was wide open on the left for her second try. The conversion from Miller made it 24 unanswered points.
Both teams emptied their bench and continuity suffered as a result. Replacement scrumhalf Justine Pelletier scored on the back of a pushover try, and the Canadian defense rejected one final attack from the Welsh at full-time.
That concludes Canada’s World Cup warm-up fixtures, with their next test the Pool B opener against Italy on October 9. Wales will have one more run-out against England at Bristol on September 14.
SCORING
CANADA 31
Tries – P. Farries 2 (18′, 43′), F. Forteza (22′), M. Grant (35′), J. Pelletier (68′)
Cons – B. Miller 2/3 (19′, 44′), S. de Goede 1/2 (69′)
WALES 3
Pens – E. Snowsill 1/1 (8′)
TEAMS
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 Brittany Kassil HT), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Laura Russell 49′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Alex Ellis 59′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom (19 Emma Taylor 49′), 5 Courtney Holtkamp (20 Ngalula Fuamba HT), 6 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Karen Paquin (21 Sara Svoboda 73′), 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Brianna Miller (22 Justine Pelletier 59′), 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Maddy Grant, 12 Alex Tessier (23 Julia Schell 67′), 13 Sara Kaljuvee, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Elissa Alarie
WALES
1 Cara Hope (17 Caryl Thomas HT), 2 Kat Evans (16 Kelsey Jones HT), 3 Donna Rose (18 Sisilia Tuipulotu 61′), 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Natalia John (19 Georgia Evans 38′), 6 Beth Lewis, 7 Manon Johnes (20 Siwan Lillicrap 44′), 8 Sioned Harries, 9 Ffion Lewis (21 Eloise Hayward 73′), 10 Elinor Snowsill (22 Lleucu George 61′), 11 Jasmine Joyce, 12 Hannah Jones (capt.), 13 Carys Williams, 14 Lowri Norkett (23 Caitlin Lewis 52′), 15 Kayleigh Powell
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistants: Julianne Zussman (Canada) & Kat Roche (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
