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Canada stormed to a 42-22 win over Wales in the opening round of the WXV’s top bracket on Saturday. Played in Wellington, New Zealand, the Maple Leafs looked the better side throughout but costly errors saw an ill-disciplined Welsh side trailing by just four points at halftime.
Sophie de Goede produced another player-of-the-match display and opened the scoring with a barging run four minutes into the game. She would convert herself, the first of a perfect six-from-six effort off the tee on the day with the kicks coming from all angles.
Carys Phillips scored on a set move from a lineout to even things up, and then for a brief period Wales held the lead after Keira Bevan landed a penalty goal. It came after a try-saving tackle by Jasmine Joyce on a flying Florence Symonds turned the ball over.
The Canadians responded with two tries, with Maddy Grant playing a part in both. Grant regathered her own chip ahead to set up Sara Svoboda for the first, and the fullback scored the second herself after an arcing run by Symonds from her left wing position to the right created an overlap.
A try just before halftime gave the Welsh renewed confidence heading into the sheds. Canada were caught trying to play out of their own end and Alex Tessier’s short pass was picked off by Georgia Evans, the second row showing a surprising turn of pace on a 25-meter run to the line.
In the second half Canada proved superior up front with a dominant scrum setting the platform for a short-range try for McKinley Hunt. Penalties continued to mount for Wales and Gillian Boag was next to score for the Maple Leafs, slipping over on the back of a driving maul.
Alex Callender grabbed a deserved try for Wales with six minutes to play after a cross-kick found Lisa Neumann in space but it was academic. The final say went to the Canucks. with Sarah-Maude Lachance touching down in the corner on the end of a scoring pass from de Goede.
Next up for Canada is a rematch against England in Dunedin on Friday. The Red Roses won both games between the two sides last month and are now firmly ahold of the No1 World Ranking spot after New Zealand’s opening round loss to France.
SCORING
CANADA 42
Tries (6) – S. de Goede (4′), S. Svoboda (30′), M. Grant (37′), M. Hunt (50′), G. Boag (68′), S. Lachance (78′)
Cons (6) – S. de Goede 6/6 (5′, 31, 38′, 51′, 69′, 79′)
WALES 22
Tries (3) – C. Phillips (8′), G. Evans (39′), A. Callender (74′)
Cons (2) – K. Bevan 2/3 (9′, 40′)
Pens (1) – K. Bevan 1/1 (28′)
TEAMS
CANADA
1 McKinley Hunt (17 Brittany Kassil 63′), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Gillian Boag 51′), 3 Alex Ellis (18 DaLeaka Menin 47′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom (19 Ashlynn Smith 69′), 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Gabrielle Senft (20 Sara Cline 75′), 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Olivia Apps (21 Justine Pelletier 47′), 10 Claire Gallagher (22 Julia Schell 69′), 11 Sarah-Maude Lachance, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Shoshana Seumanutafa, 14 Florence Symonds (23 Krissy Scurfield 57′), 15 Maddy Grant
WALES
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (17 Abbey Constable 69′), 2 Carys Phillips (16 Kelsey Jones 57′), 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (18 Donna Rose 51′), 4 Abbie Fleming (19 Kate Williams 62′), 5 Georgia Evans (19 Kate Williams 47′-62′), 6 Alisha Butchers (20 Sioned Harries 57′), 7 Alex Callender, 8 Bethan Lewis, 9 Keira Bevan (21 Megan Davies 75′), 10 Robyn Wilkins (22 Lleucu George 67′), 11 Carys Cox (23 Carys Williams-Morris 64′), 12 Kerin Lake, 13 Hannah Jones (capt.), 14 Lisa Neumann, 15 Jasmine Joyce
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistants: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) & Taneika Uerata (New Zealand)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Australia)
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
