Canada’s women’s rugby team opened the 2024 Pacific Four Series with a 50-7 victory over the United States at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday afternoon.
April 28, 2024 (Los Angeles, USA) – Canada’s women’s rugby team opened the 2024 Pacific Four Series with a 50-7 victory over the United States at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California, Sunday afternoon.
With Canada leading 17-7 at halftime, it was the final 40 minutes of play that ensured Canada’s victory. Canadian captain Sophie de Goede scored twice for her team in the 50th and 55th minutes.
Before Goede’s two tries, Alex Tessier found Madison Grant on the wing with a jump pass to the sideline. Grant got rid of the last two American defenders with a magnificent overflow shot and scored under the posts. Goede’s conversion allowed Canada to increase its lead to 38-7.
“It was a very physical game, especially in the first half, which is always the case against the United States when they play at home,” de Goede said. We had to hold back in the first half and pick up the pace in the second half. I am proud of what we did today. We just had to make sure we moved the ball quicker and were proactive in our positioning. »
Before kick-off, a last-minute change allowed Olivia Apps to enter the starting XV, replacing Justine Pelletier at scrum-half. Mahalia Robinson found herself on the bench and earned her second cap for Canada After replacing Apps in the second half.
The Canadians opened the scoring five minutes into the match, after a throw-in followed by a maul which brought the ball into the Americans’ goal. The Canadian forwards used several phases to get closer to the try line before flyhalf Claire Gallagher dived over the line to score the first try of the match, and the first of her double.
Four minutes later, Tyson Beukeboom, playing his 66th international match for Canada, scored a try to extend the visitors’ lead to 10-0. Beukeboom’s try came after another dominant maul that saw the Canadians advance the ball more than 20 meters to reach the American goal.
After a breathless defense on their own goal line, the Canadians conceded the only points of the match, reducing their lead to 10-7 in the 18th minute. However, Canada responded three minutes later when second row Laetitia Royer broke through the United States defense and raced 20 meters to score Canada’s third try of the first half.
Gallagher scored her second try of the match in the 70th minute and Julie Omokhuale, earning her second cap for Canada, scored the first international try of her career to seal the score for Canada in the 79th minute, securing a victory with a final score of 50 to 7.
Canadian rugby fans can watch the replay of the match against the United States on TSN2 at 7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST.
Canada’s next match in the Pacific Four Series is against Australia on May 11 at 12:05 p.m. PST/3:05 p.m. EST (5:05 p.m. local time) in Sydney. The team will then travel to Christchurch to face the reigning world champions New Zealand Black Ferns on Saturday, May 18 at 9:35 p.m. PST/Sunday, May 19 at 12:35 a.m. EST (May 19 at 4:35 p.m. , local hour).
All of Canada’s matches in the Pacific Four Series will be broadcast live on TSN+ and Canada’s matches will be rebroadcast: against Australia (on TSN1 on Saturday, May 11 at 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST) and against New Zealand (on TSN2 on Sunday, May 19 at 8 a.m. EST / 5 a.m. PST, and on TSN1 at 5:30 p.m. EST / 2:30 p.m. PST).
