France and Canada set up a Pool C decider on day three after
overcoming Scotland and Sweden respectively at a blustery Surrey
Sports Park.
CANADA 40-10 SWEDEN
By Nathaniel John
Canada maintained their place on top of Pool C with a 40-10
victory over Sweden on day two of Women's Rugby World Cup 2010
at a windy Surrey Sports Park in Guildford on Tuesday.
Tries from Mandy Marchak, Ashley Patzer (2) and a Heather
Moyse hat-trick put Canada on the road to an impressive victory
over Sweden, who had come closest to causing an upset on day one
before losing 15-9 to France.
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Canada made a dream start on Pitch 2 when outside centre
Marchak scored with just 60 seconds on the clock. After a darting
run and switch by her fellow centre Sarah Ulmer, Marchak outpaced
Sweden full back Anna Holmstrom to score beneath the posts.
Moments later Canada scored their second try of the afternoon
through Patzer following good work again from Marchak and number 8
Kelly Russell, the full back extending her side's lead to 14-0.
Sweden captain Ulrika Andersson-Hall managed to get her side
on the board with a with a well struck penalty to reduce the
deficit to 14-3, but Canada soon regained control of proceedings.
With barely 15 minutes on the clock, Canada had scored their
third try after a swift backs move involving scrum half Julia
Sugawara, Marchak and Ulmer, found wing Moyse who ran in to score
beneath the posts for a 21-3 lead.
Five minutes later, from a scrum in the middle of the park,
the livewire Sugawara broke blind and offloaded to the on-rushing
Patzer, who found Moyse for the Olympic bobsleigh gold medallist to
score her second and Canada's fourth try to wrap up the bonus
point.
Sweden scored their first try just after the half-hour mark
following a sustained period of pressure in the Canada 22. From a
rolling maul, set up from a lineout, Andersson-Hall found wing
Charlotta Westin-Vines, who cut an unstoppable line through the
Canadian defence to make it 26-10.
Canada, unbelievably, started the second half better than the
first, this time scoring after just 50 seconds. A swift back move
found the impressive Patzer, who stepped on the gas to accelerate
past two Swedish defenders before running through Holmstrom to
finish under the posts.
Ten minutes from the end, Canada put the gloss on the victory
with a great team try that was finished by Moyse, the WRWC 2006
leading try scorer, to complete her impressive hat-trick.
After Andersson-Hall's penalty failed to find touch,
Canada replacement Brittany Waters made valuable yards with a
pumping run. The ball was quickly recycled and passed along the
backline for Moyse to score under the posts to increase her
side's lead to 40-10.
Canada now sit with a perfect record atop Pool C with 10
points, two more than France who they will face on the final day of
pool action at Surrey Sports Park on Saturday. Sweden remain third
and will be looking for their first win of WRWC 2010 against
Scotland the same day.
POST MATCH REACTION
Canada coach John Long: "The Swedish girls
came out to play, they hit us hard and we had to work hard to get
those opportunities to score out wide. France is going to be a
colossal game, everything's riding on it. They haven't had
the two bonus points and we have so they know they've got to
beat us. We know that, we played down in France in that game at
Stade (in November) and they put it to us then, so we're
getting ready for them now."
Canada captain Leslie Cripps: "We had some
really plays that it worked perfectly, but Sweden just came out in
the second half, really shut us down and made us work really hard
and that is good for us because that is what we are going to
definitely have to do now against France. It wasn't an easy to
40-10."
Sweden coach Jonas Ahl said: "Thwy were on top of us and they were the better team today. We played some good rugby from time to time but we have to learn and go for the next game - that's what we are here for. They [Canada] were a bit more physical and played a wider game, France suited us quite well.
"After the first performance we really thought we could have a go at Canada. We did our best but it just wasn't enough today. We weren't really swithced on today I felt. We didn't get up to the standard of our last game, but we will be there for the next one."
Sweden captain Ulrika Andersson-Hall: "Quite
disappointed actually, especially with the start of the game. We
knew they were going to be physical and I think we showed them too
much respect, I think we backed off a little bit and didn't
really wake up until 15-20 minutes into the game and then it was
far too late.
"We showed some fantastic lineouts and driving mauls and
we got that part of the game going which was positive, but the game
was too much up and down for us and we are all disappointed with
our performance."
FRANCE 17-7 SCOTLAND
By Francesca Waite
France set up a Pool C decider with Canada by picking up
their second victory of Women's Rugby World Cup 2010, a 17-7
triumph of Scotland at a wet and blustery Surrey Sports Park in
Guildford on Tuesday.
For the second match in succession, though, France failed to
pick up a try-scoring bonus point, something that could prove
decisive in the race to secure a berth in the semi finals.
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France held onto possession for the opening minutes, but were
unable to make their way through Scottish defence, until full back
Elodie Poublan found a small opening to swiftly cross the line to
set off a chorus of French horns in the crowd.
A second try followed from a scrum, Marie Alice Yahe firing
the ball out to wing Céline Allainmat, who ran down the right wing
to make space for flanker Marie Charlotte Hebel to increase
France's advantage to 10-0 after 15 minutes.
Scotland, trying to play a more expansive game, made a number
of handling errors in the first half, allowing France to frequently
intercept a flying ball and gain territory.
Despite their fans roaring their side on the stands with the
sound of bagpipes punctuated with screams of support, Scotland
failed to get any points on the board in the action packed first
half.
From another scrum deep in the Scottish half, France scored a
third try, Lucille Godiveau going close before Sandrine Agricole
meandered quickly past the defence to crash over the line. Aurélie
Bailon kicked the conversion to send France in with a 17-0 lead at
the interval.
The second half had barely got underway when Lucy Millard,
one of Scotland's try scorers on day one, gave her side the
boost they needed by stepping around the French defence to race
round under the posts.
Scottish replacement Katy Green made an instant impact and
made some dangerous runs, but a break deep into the French half
ultimately came to nothing with her side unable to capitalise on
her attacking play.
The Scots refused to give up and pushed hard to the final
whistle, but with the wind persisting and making penalties hard to
kick and passes going astray they were unable to reduce the
deficit.
France, who had lost 10-8 to Scotland in the RBS Women's
Six Nations in February, were desperate to score the fourth try and
secure the bonus point, but didn't manage to and go into day
three knowing a victory over Canada on Saturday is probably a must
if they are to reach the semi finals.
Never to let an opportunity slide, France repeatedly tried to
gain territory in their challengers half. But ultimately, the
French side came out on top and go into their final pool match on
Day Three with two wins under their belts.
POST MATCH REACTION
France coach Christian Galonnier: "We played
very well in the first half and then in the second half I don't
understand what happened. Girls didn't play well at all and I
don't know whether it was the wind. I am just surprised at the
way they played after half time.
"Canada, next up, certainly pose a big challenge, they
are a quick side, they are big up front, they play well with the
ball in hand, they have got two or three particularly quick
players, so we certainly know that it is going to be a difficult
game."
Scotland coach Gary Parker: "[It is
disappointing] to walk away without getting anything from the game
when we said all along today was an important game for us, really
try and win the test match but if not get a bonus point out of it,
if not by scoring four tries or within seven. But we played really
well and it's a shame we didn't convert that pressure into
points. We moved the ball around well but ultimately you've got
to take your chances."
Scotland captain Lynne Reid: "We're
really disappointed with the final score. Again we can take a few
positives out of today, but with our performance it is
disappointing to not come away with at least a point. from today. I
think that we showed that we are getting to the right areas of the
pitch. We are being able to build phases and we are scoring tries
as well. I guess what is letting us down is that final
execution."
