Canada U20 hold on against England

Canada’s U20 Women’s Rugby Team claimed their second win of the inaugural Women’s U20 Transatlantic Quad Series on Friday in Wales with a thrilling 36-33 victory over England.

Rachel Cullum scored a hat trick, with her first try coming in the third minute to put Canada up 5-0 early. Cullum then doubled Canada’s lead, picking off an England kick and running it in. Ava Ference converted the try to give Canada a 12-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes.

It was then Kennedi Stevenson’s turn to score back-to-back, with her two tries giving Canada a 22-0 lead, which they held through to half-time.

England scored their first try of the game in the 42nd minute, but Olivia Newsome responded for Canada, driving through England’s defence. A conversion from Grace Jacklyn put Canada at 29-7.

England continued to push, scoring twice more to get within 10 points of Canada. Cullum intercepted a pass to score her hat trick try in the 68th minute however, with Jacklyn getting the conversion again to lead 36-19 with 10 minutes remaining.

England edged closer to Canada with a penalty try and a converted try, but Canada stayed in front, winning 36-33.

Canada’s U20 Women’s Rugby Team closes out the Transatlantic Quad Series on July 24 against Wales at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET. Watch live on RugbyPass TV.

England:

15. Daisy Aspinall (Hartpury College) ; 14. Abigail Pritchard (Hartpury College) ; 13. Sarah Parry (vc) (Harlequins) ; 12. Molly Bunker (Hartpury College) ; 11. Connie Clarke (Exeter Chiefs) ; 10. Becca Jackson (Hartpury College) ; 9. Poppy Love (Henley College) ; 1. Zara Green (Harlequins) ; 2. Lucy Simpson (Hartpury College) ; 3. Ruby Winstanley (Harlequins) ; 4. Jasmine Adonri (City of Oxford College) ; 5. Josie Plant (Exeter Chiefs) ; 6. Iley Bailey (Harlequins) ; 7. Kaya Acton (Bishop Burton College) ; 8. Lucy Finch (c) (Loughborough Lightning)

Replacements ; 16. Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun (SGS Filton College) ; 17. Bethan Candlin (Loughborough College) ; 18. Keira Muir (Oaklands College) ; 19. Thea Sylvester (Trailfinders Women) ; 20. Abbie Hart (Loughborough College) ; 21. Emily Lunn (Henley College) ; 22. Jess Doyle (North East) ; 23. Tilly Pulfer (Exeter College)

Canada:

1. Madeline Di Girolamo (Vaughan, ON) – University of Guelph; 2. Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Scottish / University of British Columbia; 3. Jordyn Schneppenheim (Keswick, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University; 4. Anya Prokopich (Surrey, BC) – Vancouver Thunderbirds / University of British Columbia; 5. Sierra Hasse (Saint-Lazare, QC) – SABRFC; 6. Jesse Knaggs (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers / University of British Columbia; 7. Camille Arvin-Bérod (Saint-Denis-Sur-Richelieu, QC) - Montreal Irish / Laval University / Lons Section Paloise; 8. Emily Findlay (Regina, SK) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria; 9. Ava Ference (Shawnigan Lake, BC) – Harvard University; 10. Grace Jacklyn (Brantford, ON) - Brantford Harlequins / University of Guelph; 11. Ava Van Santen (Langley, BC) - Burnaby Lake RFC/Trinity Western University; 12. Kayleigh Noel (Beaumont, AB) – Strathcona Druids / University of Lethbridge; 13. Rachel Cullum (Ottawa, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University; 14. Kennedi Stevenson (Toronto, ON) – North Halton RFC; 15. Ria Johnston (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / University of PEI

16. Soleil Brooks (Maple Ridge, BC) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria; 17. Jayne Armatage (Waterloo, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Queen’s University; 18. Maddy Thran (Courtenay, BC) – Comox Valley Rapids / University of British Columbia; 19. Emma Grootendorst (Comox Valley, BC) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria; 20. Sarah (Jiggy) Schonfeld (Ottawa, ON) – Bytown Blues / Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University; 21. Olivia Newsome (Calgary, AB) – Lanark Highlanders / Calgary Saints / University of Victoria; 22. Elle Douglas (Saskatoon, SK) – Kirin RFC / University of Victoria; 23. Halle Woodcock (Trenton, ON) - Belleville Bulldogs / Guelph Redcoats / University of Guelph; ;