Canada end Quad series unbeaten

Wales 17 Canada 53

Canada’s U20s finished the inaugural Transatlantic Quad Series with dominating victory over Wales by a final score of 53-17 on Wednesday in Ystrad Mynach, Wales.

Canada’s U20 Women’s Rugby Team finished the inaugural Transatlantic Quad Series with a dominating victory over Wales by a final score of 53-17 on Wednesday in Ystrad Mynach, Wales.

From the opening kickoff, Canada was dominant across the pitch, scoring five tries in the opening 40-minutes of play to propel them to their third and final win of the competition.

Lock Sierra Hasse got the scoring started for Canada in fourth minute of play after sustained pressure inside the Wales' 22-metre line. Ava Ference’s first convert of the match was successful for an early 7-0 lead. However, Wales answered with their only try of the half just eight minutes later, using a five-metre scrum in front of Canada’s goal line as a platform to pull the score to 7-5.

The Canadian floodgates opened in the 17th minute after a try from Camille Arvin-Béro followed by three more from Lana Dueck, Kennedi Stevenson and Addy Holmes throughout the rest of the opening half to give Canada a 29-5 lead at halftime.

At the start of the second half, Canada used a lineout and a maul just outside the Wales' 22-metre line to set up their six try of the match, with Emily Findlay diving over the line in the 44th minute.

Three more tries from Canadians Ava Van Santen, Olivia Newsome and Maia Swemmer capped of the scoring for Canada on their way to earning the victory by a final score of 53-17.

With the win, Canada finishes the inaugural Transatlantic Quad Series with a perfect record of 3-0, also defeating the USA and England in their first two matches of the competition.

Wales Ellie Tromans; Hannah Lane, Kelsie Webster, Savannah Picton Powell, Nel Metcalfe; Freya Bell, Seren Singleton; Maisie Davies, Abi Meyrick, Lowri Williams, Milly Summer, Alaw Pyrs, Lily Terry, Lucy Isaac, Jess Rogers (capt)

Replacements: Molly Wakely, Chloe Thomas Bradley, Meg Lewis, Robyn Davies, Catrin Stewart, Katie Bevans, Hanna Marshall, Ffion Davies.

Canada: Ava Van Santen; Kennedi Stevenson, Rachel Cullum, Lana Dueck, Addy Holmes; Grace Jacklyn, Ava Ference; Madeleine Girolamo, Kiki Idowu, Jordyn Schneppenheim, Anya Prokopich, Sierra Hasse, Jesse Knaggs, Camile Arvin-Berod, Emily Findlay.

Replacements: Brooke Rempel, Jayne Armitage, Maddy Thran, Maia Swemmer, Piper Walsh, Olivia Newsome, Elle Douglas, Ella Blyth.

England 22 USA 40

After an even opening 10 minutes, USA took full advantage of their first visit to the England 22. A quick tap penalty by Ava Reuter set up a pick and go on the ENgland line and a try for Lennox London.

A second try followed almost immediately with a move that started behind the USA line finding space for Paola Arredondo-Almeida to sprint most of the length of the field to score. 14-0 to USA.

USA now in command. Cindy Taulava stepped through several England tackles to set up Sofia Fernandez to crash over. USA were now 21-0 ahead before the half-hour.

England spent much of the remainder of the half at the USA end, and finally got a reward when Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun picked up a loose ball and found her way through the USA defence. But at halftime USA lead 21-7.

That try at the end of the first half lifted England and they were first on the scoreboard four minutes into the second. The conversion was missed, but England had closed the gap to 21-12.

But USA soon wiped that out when Ashley Cowdrey recovered her own kick ahead to put Lionala Mayorga for their fourth try. 28-12.

England were not finished, however, and Daisy Aspinall added their third try after the USA forward had been sucked into a ruck on the try line the Hartpury wing was on hand to take advantage of a quick pass to her on the touchline. 17-28.

But again USA bounced back with an interception try from Arredondo-Almeida 17-35, just before the hour.

Jess Doyle scored for England five minutes later (22-35) before the try of the game saw a great passing movement end with a try for Ashley Cowdrey.

England: 15 Jess Doyle (North East, 1 cap)  ; 14 Emma Gerrard (Northumbria University, uncapped) ; 13 Sarah Parry (vc) (Harlequins, 1 cap) ; 12 Molly Bunker (Hartpury College, 1 cap) ; 11 Daisy Aspinall (Hartpury College, 1 cap) ; 10 Emily Lunn (Henley College, 1 cap) ; 9 Evie Haskell (Mansfield RFC, uncapped) ; 1 Keira Muir (Oaklands College, 1 cap)  ; 2 Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun (SGS Filton College, 1 cap)  ; 3 Ruby Winstanley (Harlequins, 1 cap) ; 4 Thea Sylvester (Trailfinders Women, 1 cap)  ; 5 Freya McGinlay (Hartpury College, uncapped) ; 6 Lucy Lawford (Saracens Women, uncapped) ; 7 Abbie Hart (Loughborough College, 1 cap) ; 8 Lucy Finch (c) (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap) ; Replacements ; 16 Lucy Simpson (Hartpury College, 1 cap) ; 17 Isabelle Jacques (Bristol Bears Women, uncapped) ; 18 Zara Green (Harlequins, 1 cap) ; 19 Jasmine Adonri (City of Oxford College, 1 cap) ; 20 Lottie Ball (Henley College, uncapped) ; 21 Poppy Love (Walcats RFC, uncapped) ; 22 Becca Jackson (Hartpury College, 1 cap) ; 23 Tilly Pulfer (Exeter College, 1 cap)

USA: 1. Reece Woods ; 2. Erica Kissinger ; 3. Lauren Dipasquale ; 4. Lissa Salisbury ; 5. Cindy Taulava  ; 6. Lennox London ; 7. Emma Aj Haughey ; 8. Ava Reuter ; 9. Kate Muldoon ; 10. Alissa Eisenhart ; 11. Paola Arredondo-Almeida ; 12. Avery Morgan ; 13. Lionala Mayorga ; 14. Sereana Vulaono ; 15. Ashley Cowdrey ; 16. Sofia Fernandez ; 17. Courtney Taylor ; 18. Kendall Cunningham ; 19. Carrie Coyer-Westerberg ; 20. Ashley Torres-Brown ; 21. Taylor Sadek ; 22. Alopa Nau ; 23. Skylar