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Canada’s Senior Women made history with a 22-19 victory over the defending World Cup champion Black Ferns in Christchurch on Sunday. It’s the first time any Canadian test side has defeated New Zealand. For the women it’s ends a streak of 17 consecutive defeats dating back to 1991. In doing so Canada have claimed the Pacific Four title and will move up to No2 on the World Rugby Rankings.
It was the Maple Leafs who were first on the board, with Sophie de Goede slotting a penalty goal after both sides had held out early advances. The Black Ferns wasted no time finding a response. They turned down a shot at the posts and straight hands down the line found Katelyn Vaha’akolo in space for a try in the left corner. Ruahei Demant nailed the sideline conversion to make it 7-3 to the home side.
A stalemate held until the 22nd minute when New Zealand launched a furious attack up the middle. Kennedy Simon bounced through three would-be tacklers to put the Canadians on the back foot, and Vaha’akolo popped up infield to break the line and swerve past the cover to grab a brace. Demant was again on target to stretch the lead to double-digits.
With the home side pressing near the half-hour mark, DaLeaka Menin won a clean turnover that led to a penalty. A cross-kick from Alex Tessier didn’t quite work out but Canada were on advantage and they would have another opportunity from the lineout. When Menin broke from the maul she was stopped just short, but Fancy Bermudez looped around the ruck to punch over the line for Canada’s first try. de Goede had no trouble adding the extras.
A scrum penalty to New Zealand pinned Canada deep in their own end just before halftime. The Black Ferns attacked through the maul but they were held up in goal. Vaha’akolo was stopped just short out wide, and then a loose pass went to deck with Canada regathering to relieve the pressure.
Early in the second half it was the Black Ferns who were stuck in their end. Canada won a penalty and Tessier kicked to the corner. The forwards piled into the maul and McKinley Hunt crashed over for the try. de Goede couldn’t find the posts on this occasion but the visitors were now in the lead.
For 15 minutes the score stood until Canada again pressed into New Zealand territory. Bermudez fended here way forward on the right side, and then the ball was spun wide left where Paige Farries was stopped just short. Repeat team infringements resulted in a yellow card for Sylvia Brunt, and the Canadians opted for a lineout. The drive was stalled but de Goede appeared to take a short pass and she in turn fed a looping Bermudez for her double. This time the kick from de Goede sailed through the posts and it was a two-score lead for the Maple Leafs.
A controversial moment came soon after with Brunt still in the bin. Farries clipped through the midfield on a set move and popped off the deck to a trailing Tessier for what looked a well-taken try. After de Goede kicked the conversion the TMO intervened, and the referee decided there was obstruction on the move despite the protests of the Canadian captain.
With the clock ticking over the 70-minute mark Canada were now fiercely defending and Olivia Apps was shown yellow for a tip-tackle on Demant. A hard-charging Liana Mikaele-Tu’u was held up over the line, but New Zealand would get their try after the drop-out. Demant fired a long miss-out pass to create an overlap for replacement winger Patricia Maliepo to score in the corner.
New Zealand’s penalty count again began to climb and after warning Aldora Itunu the referee lost her patience and presented a yellow card to the prop, leaving both sides with 14 players on the pitch. One last attack from the Black Ferns ended when they opted to kick for territory. Canada held on to possession and when the referee called for time up the ball was sent into the stands for a famous victory.
Though one match remains in the Pacific Four between New Zealand and Australia in the coming week, Canada have already clinched the title with three wins from three. They now turn their focus towards the WXV First Division which will be hosted by British Columbia in September and October. Fixtures and venues are yet to be announced.
| SCORING |
NEW ZEALAND 19
Tries (3) – K. Vaha’akolo 2 (10′, 22′), P. Maliepo (73′)
Cons (2) – R. Demant 2/3 (11′, 23′)
YC (2) – S. Brunt (58′), A. Itunu (77′)
CANADA 22
Tries (3) – F. Bermudez 2 (29′ ,59′), M. Hunt (44′)
Cons (2) – S. de Goede 2/3 (30′, 60′, 64′)
Pens (1) – S. de Goede 1/1 (7′)
YC (1) – O. Apps (71′)
| TEAMS |
NEW ZEALAND
1 Chryss Viliko (18 Aldora Itunu 60′), 2 Georgia Ponsonby (16 Luka Connor 60′), 3 Tanya Kalounivale (17 Amy Rule 52′), 4 Maia Roos, 5 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (19 Charmaine Smith 52′), 6 Layla Sae (20 Kaipo Olsen-Baker 48′), 7 Kennedy Simon (co-capt.), 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9 Maia Joseph (21 Iritahana Hohaia 65′), 10 Ruahei Demant (co-capt.), 11 Katelyn Vaha’akolo (23 Patricia Maliepo 53′), 12 Sylvia Brunt, 13 Amy du Plessis, 14 Ruby Tui, 15 Mererangi Paul
Not used: 22 Hannah King
CANADA
1 McKinley Hunt (17 Brittany Kassil 65′), 2 Sara Cline (16 Emily Tuttosi HT), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Alex Ellis 65′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laetitia Royer (19 Courtney Holtkamp 45′), 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 8 Gabrielle Senft (21 Fabiola Forteza 52′), 9 Olivia Apps, 10 Claire Gallagher, 11 Paige Farries (22 Justine Pelletier 71′), 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Shoshanah Seumanutafa, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 15 Julia Schell (23 Maddy Grant 76′)
Not used: 20 Julia Omokhuale
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, May 19
Kickoff: 16:30 local
Venue: Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Weather: overcast, 46°F (8°C), wind NE 3-4mph (5-7km/h)
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistants: Ella Goldsmith (Australia) & Jess Ling (Australia)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Australia)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
