Canada crush USA in Pacific Four opener

Canada opened the Pacific Four in convincing fashion as they crushed the USA by a final score of 50-7. While the Eagles were still in touch at halftime, five tries in the second half by the Maple Leafs underlined their strength in depth with the forwards dominant throughout.

Within 10 minutes of the kickoff the Canadians had already scored twice, both set up by rolling mauls. Claire Gallagher scored the first on an overlap from phase play after the drive was stalled. The second saw the Canadian pack push all the way in from the 22-meter line with Tyson Beukeboom getting the credit.

The USA finally got some possession but a thumping tackle from Shoshanah Seumanutafa halted the momentum and Sophie de Goede won a turnover at the breakdown. Again the Eagles attacked and finally after several phases in scoring position Georgie Perris-Redding squeezed in under the posts.

A response was swift from the Canadians. They immediately pushed back into US territory and were probing the defensive line when Laetitia Royer’s inside angle broke through. The second row showed a surprising turn of pace to swerve past the cover defense and score a wonderful solo effort.

Early in the second half the scrum earned advantage and Maddy Grant circled around from her opposite wing to score in the left side on an overlap. de Goede then grabbed two tries in a span of six minutes, the first a 35-meter run after breaking through a gap on the side of a ruck, and then a fending finish after Pamphinette Buisa had broke upfield to put the Eagles on the retreat.

Emily Tuttosi’s line break nearly resulted in a try but McKinley Hunt was held up in-goal. The pressure stayed on until Gallagher looped around Fancy Bermudez to grab a brace. At the same time Bulou Mataitoga was binned for cynically grabbing Alex Tessier’s jersey earlier in the play.

Gallagher saw yellow after Canada were warned for repeat team infringements, but it made no difference in the end. Once again a long passage of play ended with the Maple Leafs crossing the line as Julia Omokhuale touched down between the uprights. Tessier’s conversion brought up the half-century.

The Pacific Four now moves south with the USA taking on New Zealand in Hamilton on May 10. Canada will play Australia in Sydney the following day.

 

SCORING

USA 7
Tries (1) – G. Perris-Redding (18′)
Cons (1) – G. Cantorna 1/1 (19′)
YC (1) – B. Mataitoga (69′)

CANADA 50
Tries (8) – C. Gallagher 2 (5′, 69′), T. Beukeboom (9′), L. Royer (20′), M. Grant (43′), S. de Goede 2 (49′, 55′), J. Omokhuale (78′)
Cons (5) – S. de Goede 4/6 (21′, 44′, 50′, 56′), C. Gallagher 0/1, A. Tessier 1/1 (79′)
YC (1) – C. Gallagher (76′)

LINEUPS

USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Catie Benson 66′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 70′), 3 Mae Sagapolu (18 Charli Jacoby 7′-21′, 62′), 4 Erica Jarrell (19 Jenny Kronish 56′), 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Tahlia Brody (20 Rachel Ehrecke 62′), 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Rachel Johnson (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz (21 Cassidy Bargell 58′), 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Autumn Czaplicki (23 Mata Hingano 56′), 12 Gabby Cantorna (22 Katana Howard 58′), 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Emily Henrich, 15 Tess Feury

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 McKinley Hunt 51′), 2 Sara Cline (16 Emily Tuttosi 51′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Alex Ellis 56′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laetitia Royer (19 Courtney Holtkamp 51′), 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Sophie de Goede (capt.) (20 Julia Omokhuale 63′), 8 Gabrielle Senft, 9 Olivia Apps, 10 Claire Gallagher, 11 Paige Farries (21 Mahalia Robinson 70′), 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (23 Fancy Bermudez 58′), 14 Maddy Grant, 15 Sabrina Poulin (22 Julia Schell 63′)

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Sunday, April 28
Venue: Dignity Health Stadium, Carson
Kickoff: 13:30 local
Weather: sunny, 72°F (22°C), wind W 12-19mph (19-30km/h)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tyler Miller (Australia)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)