Canada gave a clear statement of intent on Saturday as they opened their World Cup account by crushing Fiji 65-7 in York. It was a comprehensive victory, with fullback Julia Schell stealing the show with an incredible personal haul of six tries all scored in the second half.
By halftime the result was already well beyond doubt. Sophie de Goede got the Maple Leafs on the board when she peeled around the back of a lineout and found little opposition. Gillian Boag was next, the hooker claiming a straightforward touchdown in a driving maul.
Taylor Perry was binned for head contact, but the Canadians shrugged it off and continued their dominance through the forwards. Caroline Crossley picked from a ruck and bashed her way over before Perry returned, and then another storming run from the flanker paved the way for Alysha Corrigan to score in the corner near the half-hour mark.
Fiji’s only score came early in the second half and came in classic Fijian fashion. Josevini Neihamu’s arcing run from her own 22 meter line found enough space to break over halfway. Alfreda Fisher was there in support, and replacement Kolora Lomani did the rest with a run-in from 30 meters out. The conversion from Litiana Vueti made it a full seven.
Schell got into the act on the end of clean hands down the backline Within five minutes she had two more. A half-break from Florence Symonds in the midfield set up Schell’s double, and the hat trick came in support of Corrigan flying down the right sideline. A fourth came at the hour mark when Justine Pelletier picked out the fullback in space on the short side.
The Fijians would end the match with 14 players after prop Bulou Vasuturaga was sent off for a head-high shot on McKinley Hunt. That would open the door wide open for Schell to touch down a fifth on the end of a wide ball from Alex Tessier, and a sixth on the end of a cross-kick from Pelletier. Karen Paquin had the last say in the middle of a lineout drive.
Both teams play their second pool match in Manchester next Saturday. It’s a step up in competition for the Maple Leafs as they face Wales, followed immediately by Fiji and Scotland.
CANADA 65
Tries (11) – S. de Goede (6′), G. Boag (14′), C. Crossley (22′), A. Corrigan (29′), J. Schell 6 (49′, 52′, 54′, 61′, 69′, 72′), K. Paquin (77′)
Cons (5) – S. de Goede 4/8 (7′, 23′, 50′, 55′), J. Schell 0/2, A. Tessier 1/1 (78′)
YC (1) – T. Perry (18′)
FIJI 7
Tries (1) – K. Lomani (43′)
Cons (1) – L. Vueti 1/1 (44′)
RC (1) – B. Vasuturaga (68′)
CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil (17 McKinley Hunt 46′-70′, 80′), 2 Gillian Boag (16 Emily Tuttosi 46′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Maya Montiel 60′), 4 Sophie de Goede (20 Karen Paquin 62′), 5 Courtney O’Donnell (19 Tyson Beukeboom 53′), 6 Caroline Crossley, 7 Fabiola Forteza, 8 Gabrielle Senft (20 Rachel Smith 55′), 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Fancy Bermudez (22 Olivia Apps 44′), 12 Alex Tessier (capt.), 13 Florence Symonds (23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa 66′), 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Julia Schell
FIJI
1 Loraini Senivutu (17 Bulou Vasuturaga 50′), 2 Bitila Tawake (16 Selai Naliva 70′), 3 Tiana Robanakadavu (18 Vika Matarugu 46′), 4 Jade Coates, 5 Mereoni Nakesa (19 Asinate Serevi 53′), 6 Nunia Daunimoala, 7 Alfreda Fisher (capt.), 8 Manuqalo Komaitai (20 Karalaini Naisewa 46′), 9 Setaita Railumu, 10 Salanieta Kinita (22 Kelerayani Luvu 73′), 11 Sepeka Adi Tove, 12 Josivini Neihamu, 13 Ema Adivitaloga, 14 Ilisapeci Delaiwau (21 Kolora Lomani HT), 15 Litiana Vueti (23 Adi Salote Nailolo 55′)
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: York Community Stadium, Huntington
Kickoff: 17:30 local
Weather: partly cloudy, 68°F (20°C), wind E 2-4mph (4-7km/h)
Attendance: 4,810
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Ambert Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
