Il Nuovo Postiglione - Atkin-Davies grabs four tries as England rout Canada

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Atkin-Davies grabs four tries as England rout Canada

SPORTS 27.10.2023

Atkin-Davies grabs four tries as England rout Canada / Photo: BLAKE ARMSTRONG - AFP

Forward Lark Atkin-Davies claimed four of England's seven tries as the Red Roses routed Canada 45-12 in Dunedin on Friday to chalk up their second win of the women's WXV1 tournament in New Zealand.

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Having already demolished Australia 42-7 in Wellington last Friday, England's forwards brushed Canada aside with hooker Atkin-Davies scoring all of her tries from driving mauls by her pack.

"Credit to the forwards, we executed when we need to and I got over the line, great to get a good performance and the win," Atkin-Davies said after her 20-point haul.

"It was certainly a tough game against Canada, fair play to them they definitely challenged us."

England play hosts New Zealand, who lost to France last Saturday, in their final game next weekend of the inaugural top-tier tournament involving the world's best six women's teams.

The match in Auckland between the Black Ferns and England will be a repeat of last year's World Cup final won by New Zealand, who play Wales in Dunedin on Saturday.

England fly-half Holly Aitchison was sin-binned after half an hour for a deliberate knock-on as her side held only a slender 7-5 lead over the Canadians with half-time beckoning.

The Red Roses cut loss in the final five minutes of the first half with Atkin-Davies barging over for her first two tries.

With England in control, she grabbed two more tries from rolling mauls after the break while Canada were reduced to 14 players after replacement Julia Schell was sin-binned for a head-up tackle.

England pulled away with two late tries in quick succession as back Jess Breach touched down, after a break by full-back Ellie Kildunne, before wing Claudia MacDonald scored under the posts.

Canada, who beat Wales in their opening match last weekend, struggled up front but still breached the England defence either side of half-time with tries by Emily Tuttosi and Paige Farries.

"I thought we fought until the end, but I'm disappointed," said Canada captain Sophie de Goede.

"We just didn't pull through with the performance we wanted.

"We'll have a look at it and hopefully bounce back against France," she added ahead of their final game against the French, who play Australia on Saturday in Dunedin.

Q.Bernardi--INP

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