CARDIFF, United Kingdom-Canada scored 24 unanswered points in the second half, on Sunday, defeating Wales 24-7 in a women’s test rugby match and ending their November tour on a winning note.
The victory came despite an early yellow card and the loss of captain Olivia Demerchant after a red card in the 34th minute due to a shoulder strain on the head caused by tackling of Welsh flanker Bethan Lewis.
Cary Phillips scored a try for Wales, adding Elinor Snowsill to the processing.
Canada has pulled itself together with tries from Courtney Holtkamp, Daleaka Menin, Sabrina Poulin and Pamphinette Buisa. Alex Tessier has started two conversions.
“I am very impressed with the resilience of our players in today’s victory, ” said Canada coach Sandro Fiorino. “They overcame a red card and dictated the game in the second half. I am glad that we were able to conclude this series of meetings with a positive result.”
The third-placed Canadians suffered a 51-12 defeat to England in London last Sunday.
Canada, back in action for the first time in nearly two years, beat the United States in sixth place 15-9 and 26-13 earlier this month in Glendale, Colorado. to win the first title of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series.
Wales #11 defeated South Africa #13 29-19 and Japan #12 23-5 earlier in the month.
In another action on Sunday, England defeated the United States 89-0. On Saturday, New Zealand, number 2, lost 29-7 to France, number 4, in Castres.
France’s margin of victory meant that Canada would slip to 4th place in the next ranking, France climbed one notch.
Canada improved its career record against Wales to 8-2-2. The Canadiens won the last five games between the two, going back to a 16-11 defeat in Cardiff in May.
Canada beat Wales twice at the World Cup, winning 15-0 in hen games, followed by a 52-0 triumph in the semi-finals for fifth place.
The Canadiens started well on Sunday, sinking deep into the Welsh in-goal before seeing the strike end in a tampering error.
Wales came back, aided by a series of Canadian penalties and Phillips, on the back of the maul, crossed the line in the 10th minute. Canadian Tyson Beukeboom was in the trash of sin at that time, having received a yellow card.
Canadian veterans Laura Russell, Karen Paquin and Brianna Miller were rested on Sunday, while Fiorino made three personnel changes and three position changes.
Wales coach Ioan Cunningham has made three changes to the starting line-up with the return of pillar Caryl Thomas, halfback Keira Bevan and winger Lisa Neumann.
