Maple Leafs v Wallaroos
Ottawa, July 14
This had the makings of one of the few tight match-ups in the final series of Pacific 4 matches. The Wallaroos had shown enormous improvement in their previous games, beating the Eagles with ease. The Maple Leafs knew they couldn’t take things lightly (as if they ever would).
The opening skirmishes were so lively that it took the hosts a quarter of an hour to mark their superiority. Australia conceded a series of penalties. At the fourth Sophie De Goede opted for a scrum; from there she carried the ball over the line with indecent ease.
The Wallaroos quietened the crowd with a fine riposte. Ashley Marsters took her turn to cross, with helping shoulders behind her. Few of us could guess so early on that that would mark the end of Wallaroo success. (7-7)
Canada repeated that opening try with one difference. After a massive pack drive they spun the ball wide right for Sarah-Maude Lachance to make her mark.
The Maple Leafs had one less familiar face on the field, Claire Gallagher at No 10. Opposing analysts will have to watch her closely. She combined productive links to her backs with a searching left boot.
The Wallaroos were still well in the game until the 34th minute, when Tyson Beukeboom celebrated her 60th cap with the first of a trio of tries. Just before the break the Leafs put together a delightful move, the ball passed and received at acute angles to create space. Almost inevitably the young captain was left to sail over the line.
HALF-TIME 24-7
On the restart Gallagher showed her worth with a lovely dummy to stretch Canada’s lead.
Now we witnessed an all too frequent sequence in modern rugby. Australia incurred a number of penalties as they tried to stop the Canadian onlaught. Result: a warning then yet another yellow card (to Eva Karpani, the tight-head). Of course that is merely justice being carried out, but it reduces the drama from a Shakespeare tragedy towards a Whitehall farce.
The immediate fall-out was a second Beukeboom try, but more devastatingly, further penalties and a second yellow.
For the umpteenth time in recent months I have to type 15 v 13.
The hawk-eyed TMO had time to spot yet another dangerous tackle. Sara Cox flourished her yellow card again, but thanks to the passage of time the balance remained 15-13.
Supporters of Ealing Trailfinders will have been delighted to see Beukeboom cross for her third try to bring her a deserved award.
Teams
Australia
Bree-Anna Cheatham, Adiana Talakai, Eva Karpani, Michaela Leonard (captain), Kaitlin Leaney, Ashley Marsters, Grace Hamilton, Emily Chancellor, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Siokapesi Palu, Georgina Friedrichs, Ivanaia Wong, Maya Stewart, Lori Cramer
Bench: Tania Naden, Madison Schuck, Bridie O’Gorman, Sera Naiqama, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Jasmin Huriwai, Trilleen Pomare, Alana Elisaia
Canada
McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Tyson Beukeboom, Courtney Holtkamp, Sara Svoboda, Fabiola Forteza, Sophie de Goede (captain), Justine Pelletier, Claire Gallagher, Sara Kaljuvee, Corrigan, Paige Farries, Sarah-Maude Lachance, Maddy Grant
Bench: Mya Brubacher*, Sara Cline*, Alexandria Ellis, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft,
Fancy Bermudez, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Olivia Apps
*uncapped
Injury note
Shoshanah Seumanutafa was an unscheduled addition to the Canada line-up; Julia Schell had suffered a late injury.
For the Wallaroos Piper Duck and Annabelle Codey likewise fell foul of injury during training.
Result:
Canada 45 Australia 7
Player of the Match: Tyson Beukeboom
Table: W L BP Pts
New Zealand 2 0 2 10
Canada 1 1 1 5
Australia 1 1 1 5
USA 0 2 0 0
This means that the first three nations all qualify for WXV1; USA have to make do with WXV2. Nobody was surprised.
Officials:
Referee: Sara Cox MBE (Eng)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jenny Lui (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Note: this was Sara Cox’s 35th test, a new world record for female referees. She received a special presentation.
