Match Report: Scotland Women 26-64 Canada

Pictured: Scotland's Rhona Lloyd in action against Canada at Hive Stadium.

New Scotland head coach Dave Butcher – ahead of matches against New Zealand and Australia on home soil in the next fortnight – will have plenty to ponder on how Scotland can increase their physicality on both sides of the ball for the Antipodean clashes that lie ahead.

The Canadians ran in ten tries to Scotland’s four, and although there were some tenacious examples of last-gasp, try-saving tackling, Canadian nous always looked like prevailing.

A blustery day at Hive Stadium as Canada, the world’s third ranked women’s team, kicked off towards the Water of Leith, some 371 days since the teams had met in Exeter at the Rugby World Cup.

After some boot to ball from both teams in the opening exchanges Canada struck first.  With an advantage being played, there were some choice off-loads inside the Scotland 22 before Lana Skeldon had to make a pulverising try-saving tackle centimetres from the goal-line.

However, a penalty was eventually awarded, from which Canada tapped and flanker Lizzie Gibson plunged over. Claire Gallagher converted (0-7, 4 mins).

Scotland were awarded a scrum penalty in the hosts’ response, but the handling was erratic in the breeze from lineout possession and Canada were soon asking questions again, prompted by livewire scrum-half Olivia Apps, a deserved player of the match .  Meryl Smith made one important tackle, but Apps ultimately escaped down the narrow side of a ruck for Canada’s second try (0-12, 9 mins).

Referee Holly Wood continued to be eagle-eyed at breakdown and Scotland soon found themselves with a lineout platform in the Canadian 22. Possession was secured by Becky Boyd as front jumper, and then Scotland powered up their driving maul, ultimately enabling Evie Gallagher, on her return to the national team, to burrow over.  Helen Nelson converted (7-12, 15 mins).

The pendulum swung in Canada’s favour almost immediately, however, as Gibson, an all-action openside, crossed for her second try.  Gallagher converted (7-19, 19 mins).

It looked as if Canada’s debutant on the left-wing, Charity Williams had added to their haul into the second quarter, but the referee after consultation with her TMO, ruled that charity begins at home (!) and awarded Scotland a scrum for a clear knock-on.

At the setpiece, though, Scotland’s scrum was penalised and from another tap penalty, prop Brittany Kassil bruised over.  Gallagher goaled (7-26, 23 mins).

Canada added a fifth try, once again from direct running from their purposeful forwards, flanker Julia Omokhuale scoring (7-31, 28 mins).

Time for Scotland to show some character and it was supplied in spades by Evie Gallagher, as she ripped ball clear from Apps in what had seemed destined to be a maul turnover in Scotland’s favour and in tight confines on the left touchline, she showed strength, then dexterity in unleashing Shona Campbell for her second try for Scotland.  Nelson missed the conversion (12-31, 34 mins).

As half-time neared another Canadian try was ruled out, on this occasion for obstruction, and TMO Dan Jones was required to intervene anew.

Half-time: Scotland 12-31 Canada

Within three minutes of the restart Canada added their sixth try, stand-off Taylor Perry accelerating clear from 30 metres out. Gallagher added her fourth conversion (12-38, 44 mins).

Apps exploited a missed tackle to race in for her second try, Gallagher goaling (12-45, 48 mins).

A break by Rachel Phillips, resulted in Canada’s No 8, Gabrielle Senft, being sin binned and two minutes later, Kassil followed suit for head contact, her action resulting in an off-field review.

With the opposition down to 13, Scotland pulled back a score as Skeldon notched her 22nd try for her country from a close-range breenge.  Nelson converted (19-45, 57 mins).

In spite of being short-handed, Justine Pelletier plundered an eighth try, Gallagher goaled (19-52), 60 mins.

Scotland introduced two new caps from the bench, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Katie Buchanan, as it was announced that Kassil’s infringement was upgraded to a 20 minute red card.

That was the cue for a strong finish from the hosts as a delicate kick into space from Nelson was pouched by Rhona Lloyd for her 31^st try for Scotland.  Nelson added the extras (26-52).

Canada rounded off their victory with tries by  Senft and debutant Savannah Bauder, Gallagher landing her seventh conversion.

Full-time: Scotland 26-64 Canada

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Edinburgh Rugby); Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Rachel Phillips (Edinburgh Rugby), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears), Shona Campbell (Sale Sharks); Helen Nelson (Trailfinders Women), Rhea Clarke (Glasgow Warriors); Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), Elliann Clarke (Glasgow Warriors); Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women), Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Bears), Rachel Malcolm (Trailfinders Women) CAPTAIN, Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears), Becky Boyd (Loughborough Lightning).

Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe (Glasgow Warriors) for Skeldon (59 mins), Anne Young (Glasgow Warriors) for Bartlett (46 mins), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh Rugby) for Elliann Clarke (59mins), Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks) for Boyd (29 mins), Adelle Ferrie (Edinburgh Rugby) for Cunningham (55 mins), Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors) for Rhea Clarke (55mins), Hannah Ramsay (Edinburgh Rugby) for Smith (62 mins) and Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs) for Campbell (62 mins).

Canada: Claire Gallagher; Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier CAPTAIN, Charity Williams; Taylor Perry, Olivia Apps; Brittany Kassil, Kiki Idowu, Daleaka Menin; Rachel Smith, Laetitia Royer, Julia Omokhuale, Lizzie Gibson, Gabrielle Senft.

Replacements: Emily Tuttosi, for Idowu (46mins) Sophie McDonald for Gibson (61 mins), Brooke Rempel for Menin (61 mins), Sophie de Goede for Smith (46 mins), Pamphinette Buisa for Omokhuale (61 mins), Justine Pelletier for Apps (52 mins), Savannah Bauder for Perry (68 mins) Asia Hogan-Rochester for Bermudez (61 mins).

Yellow cards: Gabrielle Senft and Brittany Kassil (upgraded to 20 minute red card)

Referee: Holly Wood (England)
Assistant referees: Jamie Parr and Emily Hope (both England)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)
FPRO: Jenny Davies (Wales)

Attendance: 2,721.

Vodafone Player of the Match: Olivia Apps (Canada)