WXV 1: England Triumph Over Canada to Retain Title
WXV 1 Updates: England defeated the hosts, Canada, 21–12, to win the WXV 1 championship in an exciting championship match.
The triumph at BC Place increased England’s incredible winning run to 20 games. In other matches, Ireland made their WXV 1 debut with a victory over the USA, while New Zealand recorded their first win of the competition against France.
After a fierce battle against the hosts, the Red Roses are crowned top level winners. Ireland and New Zealand also win in this exciting final round. We recount all the action.
England defeated the hosts Canada 21–12 in BC Place, but they had to fight hard to win the WXV 1 championship.
John Mitchell’s team was reduced to 14 players twice in the second half as Canada put the Red Roses under tremendous strain and took the lead twice.
Nevertheless, the reigning champions managed to secure the victory and increase their winning streak to 20 games, with Zoe Aldcroft enhancing the score with their third try in the last play.
Winger Katelyn Vahaakolo of New Zealand defeated France 39–14 earlier on Saturday, securing their first victory of the competition. Vahaakolo scored a hat-trick.
And on Friday, Ireland made it two wins out of three in their WXV 1 debut, defeating the USA 26–14 at BC Place after scoring two tries in the last ten minutes.
Ireland 26-14 USA
Eagles women’s prop Midway through the first half, Hope Rogers celebrated her 50th cap with style, scoring the game’s first try to give USA a well-earned lead.
After McKenzie Hawkins’ conversion, Ireland tied the score after ten minutes thanks to a fast tap from flanker Erin King, who was crucial to the triumph over New Zealand, and Nicole Fowley’s extras.
At the end of the half, the USA took the lead once more, and this time, it was Rogers who scored, crossing the line from close range to record her 17th test rugby try.
The Women’s Eagles led 14–7 at halftime thanks to Hawkins’ conversion, and they maintained that lead until a lapse in discipline occurred halfway through the second half.
In the 64th minute, Ireland was given a penalty try to tie the score once more, with Tahlia Brody receiving a yellow card in the process.
With less than ten minutes remaining, the USA was down to 13 players, and Ireland took the lead for the first time thanks to a third try from Cliodhna Moloney.
Murphy Amee Leigh Before Rachel Johnson was sent off, and the Women’s Eagles finished the game with 13 players, Crowe added the fourth Irish try to ensure victory and send the USA to sixth place.
France 14-39 New Zealand
Ayesha Leti-I’iga broke through the whitewash in the eighth minute to give the Black Ferns their first lead of the match, having only triumphed once against France in six years.
Vahaakolo’s first of three tries immediately after doubled New Zealand’s lead, but in the eighteenth minute, Lina Queyroi’s conversion of Emeline Gros’ try reduced the French deficit to only three points.
Around halfway through the first half, Alana Bremner scored New Zealand’s third try, but co-captain Manaé Feleu and Queyroi’s extras allowed France to tie the score at 15–14.
After Vahaakolo’s outstanding second try just before halftime gave the Black Ferns some breathing room, Les Bleues lost the match in the next ten minutes thanks to two more tries.
Quick-witted winger Vahaakolo reached 19 test goals in just 14 games as she finished her hat-trick in the 44th minute. Five minutes later, Kaipo Olsen-Baker scored a goal.
Hannah King, who was crucial in extending the Black Ferns’ advantage to 20 points, found her range from the kicking tee to convert both.
Tanya Kalounivale added a seventh try in the 57th minute with Séraphine Okemba in the sin bin, and that’s how the score stood at the end of play.
England 21-12 Canada
After some phase play from her forwards, Justine Pelletier found a way across the line, putting England behind early for the second straight game.
Less than five minutes later, though, the Red Roses took the lead for the first time thanks to Alex Tessier’s inability to convert.
Alex Matthews, the number eight, fought her way up to the line, and tighthead prop Maud Muir twisted and burrowed over the line to score as the ball was recycled.
Although Helena Rowland scored, the score was still that at halftime due to strong defenses.
Ellie Kildunne received a yellow card four minutes into the second half, bringing the reigning champions down to fourteen players.
In the 51st minute, Tessier’s try was converted by the captain of Canada after a well-executed team play created room for her to do so.
However, England’s roster was only temporarily restored to 15 players when Bo Westcombe-Evans was sent out for a purposeful knock-on.
But the following goal came from the Red Roses, with Sarah Bern scoring from close range and Rowland adding the conversion to put her team ahead once more.
And even with tremendous pressure from Canada, England held on to win; Player of the Match Aldcroft scored a touchdown on the very last play, and Rowland added her third conversion to keep the hosts from earning a losing bonus point.
