SCOTLAND 4 CANADA 34
PHIL HODGSON, Mansfield Park, Hawick, Saturday
SCOTLAND, despite a bright start, were unable to prevent Canada from registering an impressive victory – and picking up valuable world ranking points – after the previous week’s notable 14-0 win by the Ravens over Wales at The Gnoll, Neath.
The hosts, building on early pressure, established a lead when the ball was swept wide by Emma Welsford, Cerys Gregory and Enya Lackie for Caitlin Cox to cross wide out.
Becky Smart was unable to improve from the touchline and, despite huge efforts from the likes of Georgia Briggs, Charlotte Hill, Nicole Stewart and inspirational captain Welsford, Scotland subsequently struggled to contain the athletic and mobile tourists.
Canada stand-off Dani Franada, the clear player of the match, was particularly influential in the first half and opened her side’s account on 14 minutes, collecting a slightly fortuitous rebound off her own grubber to dart under the posts.
Tash Naismith added the first of her three goals (the scrum-half struggled with attempts from wider out) and Canada went six points clear when Franada’s accurate kick was collected superbly by winger Erika Scott as the half-hour beckoned.
That score was important, coming as it did shortly after Cox had what would have been a second try vetoed for a forward pass.
Canada fullback Petra Woods, who was dangerous throughout, raced in from long-range after Robyn Price spilled the ball to establish a 14-4 lead at the break, although the hosts were unfortunate when a Stewart kick bobbled into touch in-goal, eluding the chasing Smart.
Centre Maddy Aberg, who was another outstanding figure for Canada, finished off fine approach work by loose-forward Megan Pakulis and Woods seven minutes after the restart (Franada having forced a goal-line drop-out in chasing her own 30-metre kick).
And, after the gallant Evie Tonkin pulled off a sensational try-saving tackle on the rampaging Sarah Maguire, Pakulis grabbed the touchdown her efforts undoubtedly deserved, spinning out of an attempted tackle as the game entered the final quarter to punish Stewart’s failure to find touch when kicking against the wind with a penalty in her own half.
Naismith converted that one, from close to the posts, before Tonkin prevented another try, halting Scott in full flight.
Tonkin sustained a game-ending injury in the process and Canada closed with a couple more tries.
The first went to Aberg, who nipped over from short range off Naismith’s pass, and the second to Gabby Hindley, who was unstoppable from ten metres after Woods and Naismith linked.
Naismith tagged on the goal to bring the curtain down on a memorable display by the tourists, for whom hooker Alanna Fittes was a quietly impressive team player, while Scotland will be aware that with a shade more composure, they could have taken Canada much closer.
SCOTLAND: Evie Tonkin (Workington Town), Caitlin Cox (Huddersfield Giants), Enya Lackie (Cardiff Demons), Kasey Currie (Workington Town), Becky Smart (London Broncos), Emma Welsford (Manchester Swinton Lionesses), Cerys Gregory (Featherstone Rovers), Kaiya Glynn (Leeds Rhinos), Abi Gordon (Leigh Leopards), Georgia Briggs (Manchester Swinton Lionesses), Charlotte Hill (Manchester Swinton Lionesses), Ciorstaidh Ainsworth (Stirling County), Rebecca Moffatt (Cartha Queens Park). Subs: Ellie Garside (Huddersfield Giants), Steph Gray (Leigh Leopards), Nicole Stewart (Barrow Raiders), Robyn Price (Golden Ferns)
Tries: Cox (9); Goals: Smart 0/1
CANADA: Petra Woods, Erika Scott, Sarah Canini, Maddy Aberg, Brittany Jones, Dani Franada, Tash Naismith, Sarah Maguire, Alanna Fittes, Hannah Tonet, Gabby Hindley, Larae Benoit, Megan Pakulis. Subs: Savannah Bacchus, Cassie Mann, Tamisah Toussaint, Payton MacNeil
Tries: Franada (14), Scott (25), Woods (30), Aberg (47, 69), Pakulis (63), Hindley (78); Goals: Naismith 3/7
Penalty count: 7-5; Half-time: 4-14; Referee: Tyler Topping-Higson