Pool A: Canada & England set up decider

England 45 Spain 5

Despite a palpable difference in physical size, Spain gave as good as they got in the opening half of this tough game.

Initial attempts to use that superiority with attempted mauls to get on the scoreboard came to little. It took nearly 20 minutes to break the deadlock, thanks to a perfectly weighted kick from Ceri Large, with Kay Wilson winning the foot-race to touch down for England.  Scarratt – who started after Lydia Thompson pulled up with an injury just before the start – converted.

Scarratt added a penalty shortly afterwards, but Spain continued to battle hard and had moments of their own, finding themselves on the England 5m on several occasions. Despite giving away a huge weight advantage in the scrum they more than held their own, with captain Ana Aigneren a potent force at number eight. However, even if the England forwards were not winning the offensive battle, they were more than able to keep Spain out.

It was the 38thminute before a second try was added by England, and again it was the back, Waterman dodgy and muscling her way through to go under the posts to give England a 17-0 lead at the break.

It did not take England long to add to that score in the second half, with the maul being far more effective England took the ball from 13m out to within a yard before Keates seized the opportunity.

Despite the brave Spanish defence, the England try count continued to grow – but there was a moment for the Iberians to savour, with the back taking the ball down the far side before the forwards forced it over.

But England were not done – and it was another maul that saw the eighth try – and eighth conversion as Scarratt had a perfect day with the boot.

England: 1. Claire Purdy; 2. Victoria Fleetwood; 3. Sophie Hemming; 4. Joanna McGilchrist; 5. Rebecca Essex; 6. Sarah Hunter, (c); 7. Marlie Packer; 8. Alexandra Matthews; 9. La Toya Mason; 10. Ceri Large; 11. Lydia Thompson; 12. Amber Reed; 13. Claire Allan; 14. Kay Wilson; 15. Danielle WatermanReserves: 16. Emma Croker; 17. Laura Keates ; 18. Tamara Taylor; 19. Heather Fisher; 20. Natasha Hunt; 21. Rachael Burford; 22. Emily Scarratt

Spain: 1. Isabel Rico; 2. Aroa González; 3. Rocío García; 4. Diana Gasso; 5. María Ribera; 6. Paula Medín; 7. Ángela del Pan; 8. Ana María Aigneren (c); 9. Patricia García; 10. Marina Bravo; 11. Elizabet Martínez; 12. Irene Schiavon; 13. Bárbara Plá; 14. Ana Vanesa Rial; 15. Marta CabanéReserves: 16. Mª Carmen Sequedo; 17. Elena Redondo; 18. Lourdes Alameda; 19. María Casado; 20. Iera Echebarria ; 21. Elena Roca; 22. Berta García

Canada 42  Samoa 7

Canada set up  a pool decider against England with this decisive win.

Canada got off to a great start with some powerful rucking and win a 5m scrum. They were pushed back by the Samoans onto the halfway line and looking promising however a super break from Magali Harvey, weaving in and out of half a dozen Samoans, gained around 20 metres.

Mandy Marchak carried the momentum on from Harvey and broke the Samoan line to score a try 5 metres from the posts.

Canada scored another midway through the first half - Brittany Waters scoring a well worked try on the outside where Canada had the numbers advantage. It was three against one and the ball was calmly passed to the wing - almost too calmly as the lone Samoan almost covered her.

A dummy pass by Elissa Alarie bemused the defenders which allowed her to skirt around the outside for a try and then Harvey converted again with her impressive form from the boot continuing.

Samoa did have some possession inside of the Canadian half but throughout most of the first half they were on the back foot on their own side of the pitch. Canada were out muscling Samoa and dominated them at the breakdown, repeatedly turning over the ball when Samoa looked like they might threaten the score line.

Just when Samoa looked in a threatening position 5m from the Canadian try line, Canada get a penalty and in a flash the ball was at the other end of the pitch and over the try line. A great run from the Canadian players finished off by Bernier and converted yet again by Harvey keeping her flawless record in this game intact early in the second half.

The Samoans then made positive movements into the Canadian half, winning a free kick inside the Canadian 22 and no. 8 Helen Collins broke the Canadian line and passed it to replacement Ginia Muavae who touched down a few metres from the posts getting Samoa onto the scoreboard.

The Samoans continued to play positively inside the Canadian half and for about 10 minutes Canada were defending inside and just outside their 22.

However Samoa appeared sluggish with the ball, unable to connect the crisp passes or quick runs Canada were showing.

When Canada got possession immediately they used their speed to penetrate the Samoan defence. Thornborough made a great run from the halfway line and offloaded the ball to Waters who scored another try - Harvey again converting.

Canada continued to look dangerous with possession and Andrea Burk got the final score.

Canada:1. Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, 2. Mary Jane Kirby, 3. Olivia DeMerchant, 4. Maria Samson, 5. Latoya Blackwood, 6. Jacey Murphy, 7. Karen Paquin, 8. Kelly Russell, (Captain), 9. Stephanie Bernier, 10. Emily Belchos, 11. Brittany Waters, 12. Andrea Burk, 13. Mandy Marchak, 14. Magali Harvey, 15. Elissa Alarie

Replacements:16. Hilary Leith, 17. Laura Russell, 18. tyson Buekeboom, 19. Kayla Mack, 20. Julianne Zussman, 21. Amanda Thornborough, 22. Jessica Dovanne,

Samoa:1 Tessa Wright, 2 Sally Kaokao, 3 Ala Leavasa-Bakulich, 4 Italia Tipelu, 5 Cynthia Taala, 6 Rita Lilii, 7 Vicki Campbell, 8 Helen Collins, 9 Tulua Leuluaialii, 10 Bella Milo, 11 Justine Luatua , 12 Mac Collins, 13 Merenaite Faitala-Mariner, 14. Taliilagi Mefi, 15 Brenda Collins,Replacements: 16 Ginia Muavae, 17 Sharlene Fagalilo, 18. Apaula Kersiano, 19 Cynthia Apineru, 20 Roxy Leaupepe, 21 Mele Leuluaialii, 22 Tile Start