Strong start leads England to u20 win over Canada

A dominant first half led England to a 36-22 win over Canada in the Women’s u20 Tri-Nations Cup at Acadia University on Friday evening. The visitors ran out to a 19-0 lead in the opening quarter before Canada launched an incomplete second half comeback.

England dominated possession and field position in the first half, with a series of unforced errors costing Canada dearly. Simple overlaps yielded tries for Lagi Tuima and Abby Dow with Zoe Harrison scything through the middle for a third score.

Canada finally got on the board when Madison Gold snagged an errant England pass to break 80 metres untouched for a try. England replied almost from the restart, however, with Lilian Stoeger-Goddard finishing off another attacking move in the corner.

The second half would have a very different complexion. A line break from inspirational captain Sophe de Goede got her team in behind the defense and Sarah-Maude Lachance was in support to finish the move.

Lively flanker Amelia Harper was the recipient after England forced their way over from a maul. Dow got her second when Ellie Green slid the ball in behind the defense, but a yellow card to Dow gave Canada an opportunity to put poinds on the board.

A stable scrum gave de Goede the platform to barge over from the No8 pick. The last say would go to Canada as Lachance raced in for her second after good work from replacement halfbacks Sasha Guedes and Annie Kennedy.

The two sides will rematch next Saturday at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax. England will play the USA on Tuesday at Acadia.

 

SCORING

CANADA 22
Tries – M. Gold, S. Lachance 2, S. de Goede
Cons – B. Bazian

ENGLAND 36
Tries – L. Tuima, A. Dow 2, Z. Harrison, L. Stoeger-Goddard, A. Harper
Cons – Z. Harrison 3
Yellow cards – A. Dow

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Maya Montiel, 2 Mackenzie Carson, 3 Val Wideski, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Zoe Goodwin-Sutton, 6 Celia Martensson, 7 Courtney Holtkamp, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Taylour Hurd, 10 Tausani Levale, 11 Rachel Hickson, 12 Madison Gold, 13 Sarah-Maude Lachance, 14 Asia Hogan, 15 Brooke Bazian

Replacements: 16 Erika Barton, 17 Idia Ihensekian, 18 Amelia Hatfield, 19 Aly MacDougall, 20 Harley Tucker, 21 Sasha Guedes, 22 Annie Kennedy, 23 Hannah Daniels

ENGLAND
1 Ellena Perry, 2 Leah Bartlett, 3 Ellie Mulhearn, 4 Rosie Gallagan, 5 Hollie Cunningham, 6 Amelia Harper, 7 Charlie Wilcock, 8 Sarah Beckett, 9 Brooke Bradley, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Lilian Stoeger-Goddard, 12 Lucy Attwood, 13 Phoebe Murray (capt.), 14 Abby Dow, 15 Lagi Tuima

Replacements: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Akina Gondwe, 18 Detysha Harper, 19 Rianna Manson, 20 Cara Brincat, 21 Ella Wyrwas, 22 Ellie Green, 23 Beth Wilcock

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (RC)
Assistants: Dale Hall (RC) & Chris Micheletti (RC)