The Oval Zone report from Cardiff Arms Park
Wales, straight from the kick off, showed their attacking intent and it took just three minutes on the clock for them to gain a penalty after pressuring the Canada line. Robyn Wilkins, normally so reliant with the boot, was well wide with this first scoring opportunity.
Having survived the initial onslaught, the visitors then showed what they were capable of, causing problems for the Welsh defence when they threw the ball out wide. Canada were settling in to the game and some good home defence meant the majority of the game was being played in midfield with few chances for either side.
Quarter of an hour in to the half Canada were awarded a penalty out wide which they kicked to touch, gathered from the lineout and their forwards powered over for the game's first try, scored by number six Sara Svoboda. The conversion was just short, giving the visitors a 0-5 lead.
Back came Wales and they soon drew level after twenty minutes when hooker Carys Phillips forced her way over the line to score the first Welsh try, well converted by Robyn Wilkins and the hosts were in front for the first time.
Canada's big forwards were enjoying the battle and looked dangerous when going forward. The penalties started racking up against Wales with the visitors electing to kick to touch on a number of occasions when an easy three points were on offer. Their enterprise paid off as, on 27 minutes, they again secured line out ball and big number eight Gabby Senft arm wrestled her way through the Welsh defence to touch down and regain the lead at 7-10.
Wales worked hard in the last ten minutes of the half but stout defending by the Canucks, and a couple of unfortunate handling errors, prevented them making the breakthrough with no further scoring before the interval.
Canada looked hungry in the opening exchanges of the second half and just two minutes in big second row Courtney Holtkamp forced her way over for her team's third try of the game, converted by Magali Harvey and the visitors now held a commanding 7-17 lead.
Back came Wales, piling on the pressure and spurning some easy three point penalties to kick for touch. They had their reward when, from one of these lineouts, Sioned Harries broke the visitors defence and scored a fine try, converted by Robyn Wilkins, to reduce the deficit to 14-17 with half hour still left on the clock.
At this stage in the game, the majority of play was in the Canada half and Wales came agonisingly close to a score, deemed by the referee to have been held up just short. However, it was not long before the score did come when Lisa Neumann pounced on a high ball which was bobbling about behind the Canada try line, playing havoc with the defenders and regained the lead for Wales, Wilkins converting to edge the Dragons in front at 21-17.
Unfortunately, this was as good as it got for Wales as Canada opened up with some telling breaks. Jasmine Joyce pulled off a miraculous tackle to stop Brianna Miller just inches from the line. The respite was short lived as Holtkamp grabbed her second try, quickly followed by a Cindy Nelles score with Miller converting both tries and the Welsh lead had been reversed in majestic fashion in a few short minutes with the visitors now leading 21-31.
Alarie capped a fine individual perforamnce after a dazzling run to score out wide and Miller, with a magnificent conversion, scored what were to be the last points of the game and a deserved win for the Canadian women.
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