Wales overpower Canada in Cardiff

WALES 61 – CANADA 26

Welsh fly-half James Hook produced another near faultless display by converting eight of the home side’s nine tries and leading the Wales backs. Canada managed second-half consolation tries by prop Dan Pletch and wing Mike Pyke, but Wales were rarely tested.

This was the ninth meeting between the countries and the Welsh were keen to avoid the shock 26-24 defeat suffered in 1993, the Canadians only success.

It was the guests who drew first blood when left-wing James Pritchard landed a third minute penalty after Ian Evans was caught with his hands in the ruck. After a sloppy start, Wales made an early break when captain Gareth Thomas darted onto James Hook’s clever kick through for his 37th test try. Hook converted easily.

A second Pritchard penalty narrowed the scores to 7-6 before Shane Williams produced some dazzling footwork to step inside the Canadian defence for a superb try, again converted by Hook. A third Pritchard penalty took Canada to 14-9 before Welsh hooker Matthew Rees was rewarded for some good support work: Wales broke from deep before scrum-half Dwayne Peel put him over. Hook landed a difficult conversion from the touchline.

A rare foray into Welsh territory by the Canadians saw their fly-half Derek Daypuck land a long-range drop goal to make it 21-12 with half-time approaching. A scrum on the Canadian line collapsed, Wales No.8 Ryan Jones touched down, but referee Tony Spreadbury signalled a penalty try. Hook was again faultless with the conversion to make it 28-12 at half-time.

A block on a Canadian defender robbed Ryan Jones again as he grounded the ball, only to be pulled back by Spreadbury. Jones turned provider when he timed his line-out jump perfectly and his tap down into Peel’s grateful arms. The Welsh scrum-half darted through a gaping hole in the Canadian defence and touched down after a 15-metre run.

Hook effortlessly landed his fifth conversion from a tough angle to make it 35-12 with barely five minutes of the first-half gone.

The Canadian defence buckled and conceded two tries in the space of three minutes from Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas as the home side pulled away. Hook converted Thomas’s first try, but finally broke his 100% record when he missed with his seventh conversion, before Canadian replacement forward Dan Pletch grabbed a consolation try.

Replacement centre Ceri Sweeney had barely been on the field ten minutes when he touched down for Wales as the guests’ defence tired, Hook landing his seventh conversion of the night. Left-wing Mike Pyke touched down late on for the guests before Tom Shanklin grabbed Wales’s ninth.

Full match report to follow.

Wales: (28) 61
Tries: G Thomas, S Williams, Rees, Pen, Peel, J Thomas (2), Sweeney, Shanklin
Cons: Hook (8)

Canada: (12) 26
Tries: Pletch, Pyke
Cons: Prichard (2)
Pens: Prichard (3)
DG: Daypuck

Wales: Gareth Thomas (Toulouse, capt), Mark Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys), James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
Replacements: Rhys Thomas (Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Michael Phillips (Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Lee Byrne (Scarlets)

Canada: Ed Fairhurst (Cardiff Blues), Mike Pyke (Edinburgh), Ryan Smith (Montauban), David Spicer (Uni of Victoria), James Prichard (Bedford), Derek Daypuck (Castaway-Wanderers), Morgan Williams (Albi, capt), Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow), Mark Lawson (Velox-Valhallians), Forrest Gainer (Albi), Luke Tait (Overmarch Parma), Mike Burak (Pau), Mike Webb (Castaway-Wanderers), Stan McKeen (Cornish Pirates), Sean-Michael Stephen (Bezier)
Replacements: Pat Riordan (Burnaby Lake), Dan Pletch (Oakville Crusaders), Mike Pletch (Oakville Crusaders) Stu Ault (Barrhaven Scottish), Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins), Ander Monro (Edinburgh), Justin Mensah-Coker (Albi)

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)