One-sided win for Canada over South Africa

Canada scored a one-sided 66-7 victory over South Africa in Madrid on Saturday. Seven different players scored tries for the Maple Leafs, including a hat-trick from Fancy Bermudez on debut.

The Springbok Women were forced to play most of the match with only 14 on the field after flanker Catha Jacobs was red-carded for a head-high shot on DaLeaka Menin just six minutes in. They would also lose second row Danielle Lochner and Aseza Hele to injury by halftime. Nomawethu Mabenge would score in the second half to erase the shutout, converted by Libbie Janse van Rensburg.

It was 35-nil at the intermission for the Canadians. Sabrina Poulin opened the scoring, with Sarah-Maude Lachance grabbing a double and singles for Paige Farries, Julia Schell, Sara Svoboda, and Renee Gonzalez. Remarkably all eight conversions came from forwards, six to captain and No8 Sophie de Goede and two to replacement lock Emma Taylor.

Both teams will be back in action at the same location next Saturday. South Africa will look for a better result against hosts Spain, while Canada face the USA in a neutral-venue clash that will double as the first round of the Pacific Four.

 

SCORING

CANADA 66
Tries (10) – S. Poulin, S. Lachance 2, P. Farries, F. Bermudez 3, J. Schell, S. Svoboda, R. Gonzalez
Cons (8) – S. de Goede 6, E. Taylor 2

SOUTH AFRICA 7
Tries (1) – N. Mabenge
Cons (1) – L. Janse van Rensburg
RC (1) – C. Jacobs

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Julia Schell, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Fancy Bermudez, 14 Sarah-Maude Lachance, 15 Sabrina Poulin

Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Maya Montiel, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 MP Fauteux, 21 Laetitia Royer, 22 Mahalia Robinson, 23 Renee Gonzalez

SOUTH AFRICA
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (capt.), 5 Danielle Lochner, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 7 Catha Jacobs, 8 Aseza Hele, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 11 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 13 Shaunique Hess, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 15 Mary Zulu

Replacements: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Azisa Mkiva, 19 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 20 Nompumelelo Mathe, 21 Unam Tose, 22 Chumisa Qawe, 23 Byrhandré Dolf

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Lorena Martínez (Spain) & Jen Lee (Spain)
TMO: Félix Villegas (Spain)