Canada defeated the USA in the opening game of the Pacific Four Series in Tauranga, New Zealand, playing just a little bit more of a unified game against the Eagles.
The 36-5 scoreline was pretty indicative of how the run of play went. The USA had few scoring opportunities and when they had the ball, struggled to keep it in the rain.
This was a relatively young USA team as several season professionals were still in the UK. They started three uncapped players and two more came in off the bench; a further six had less than seven caps. But the issues weren’t inexperience so much as a backline that had all sorts of trouble keeping the ball and carrying it past the gainline.
Canada’s first score came about four minutes into the game. They took a kick to touch after a penalty and from there mauled it about 18 meters before prop Olivia DeMerchant crashed over.
The Eagles replied, taking a lineout on a penalty. They mauled nicely, worked the ball to the middle, and then sent it wide left where a perfect tip-on from co-captain and No. 8 Kathryn Johnson where flanker Hallie Taufoou grabbed it and was over.
The game remained tied 5-5 until the 30th minute when a long period of Canada pressure was finished off by DeMerchant, who took a flat pass and shoved a tackler back before scoring. No. 8 Sophie De Goode converted and it was 12-5.
Canada camped out in the USA half after that and, as the heavens opened once again, the Canadian forwards played one-and-crash ball and flanker Pamphinette Buisa did the honors.
That made it 17-5 at halftime, still in reach for the USA, but the Canadian dominance to territory was a worry.
