Canada prove too strong for Eagles

By Harry Scott-Munro
5/11/21

It proved to be a second defeat in a week for Exeter Chiefs’ USA Eagles contingent of Kate Zackary, Rachel Johnson and Gabby Cantorna, as Canada secured a 26-13 victory at Infinity Park to win the maiden Pacific Four series title.

After being disappointed in their performance on Monday, the USA would have been delighted with the start, as national captain and Chiefs co-captain Zackary opened the scoring just minutes into the game, dotting down after a strong American maul, with club team-mate Cantorna adding the conversion.

The Canadians – who included Exeter DaLeaka Menin on the bench – responded quickly though, as Sophie de Goede dotted down from close range after a series of carries from the pack, converting her own try. Teammate Courtney Holtkamp then followed with a second Canada try to put her side up 12-7 minutes later, as she was found in space on the wing, bursting clear and brushing off the attentions of the American fullback to score.

A United States penalty in the 28th minute from Cantorna cut the gap to 12-10, but the visitors answered right back once again with a try from Alex Ellis, after de Goede had created chaos in the American ranks with a superb break. The number 8 then converted Ellis’ try for good measure.

In the second half, Cantorna added another penalty, before Karen Paquin’s try with just over 10 minutes remaining secured the game for Canada, whose defence stood tall despite being down a player for a large period of the second half following a red card for second-row Laetitia Royer, after a second yellow card offence for a high tackle.

Speaking at full-time Canadian captain Laura Russell was thrilled with the performance of her side.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be back with the team, we’ve spent a long time apart,” said the Canadian captain. “We had some things to work on, we wanted to come out hard and flying and we tried to do that,” added Russell. “We’ve still got a ways to go, we’re building right now, but we definitely wanted that fire in the game and we’re proud that we gritted it out and took home the win.”

There was a very different mood in the American camp though, with Head Coach Rob Cain and the entire squad visibly disappointed and frustrated at full-time.

“We have to do the basics well under pressure,” mused Cain. "We’re working really hard to put things right but at times, out on the field, it’s not showing. These are really, really harsh lessons; but lessons that we need to start getting over because if we want to do the things that the group speaks about, then our precision and our accuracy in big momentum swings have to get better.”