Pool A: England through, NZ out

England 13 Canada 13

This was an error strewn game but a gripping one no less as England and Canda combined to knock New Zealand out of the tournament.

The result saw England top the pool while Canada have to wait nervously to see what happens between France and Australia.

Canada started well enough with centre Andrea Burk bursting through the middle but England had their first break when Danielle Waterman ghosted down the line to help her side win good field position after just a few minutes

As the teams went end to end a brilliant break from Elissa Alarie but England recovered well and with a well struck penalty Emily Scarratt gave them a 3-0 lead to continue her fine form with the boot.

A lovely break from Emily Belchos though helped Canada back into it as she went straight over Ceri Large to relieve some territorial pressure on her side, and then a superb scrum deep in the England 22 helped them edge towards their first score. When it came, it was very well worked by the Canadian pack who drover Karen Paquin over the line for the first touch-down and the lead.

With Burk proving a handful in midfield, England relied on the penalties Canada were conceding to push them back downfield and though Canada were under pressure back in their own half as it wore on, England’s passing and handling errors cost them plenty of chances

They did almost score when Ceri Large put through a lovely kick for Waterman, but the fullback couldn't collect. Seconds later Large put Kat Merchant through but the winger too was deemed to have spilled the ball.

Canada came powering back into it but just before the half England found themselves metres out. Waterman had a dash for the line but was defended well enough but Scarratt was given the chance for the lead and she took it to make it 6-5 to England at the break.

Canada picked up where they left of after the break with Burk and Mandy Marchak punching through the middle early, and setting up position just metres out. A lovely pass from Harvey almost saw the through but Waterman tackled well but when the ball came back the other way, Canada’s forwards made no mistake and again drove over the line for the second try through Kalya Mack, England starting to miss vital tackles.

In the way the game was going though, they worked their way back upfield and Canada were forced to defend several drives by the English pack - now with replacements on - and the pressure from England eventually told with a very well worked forward effort. Sarah Hunter was on the end of the drive and Scarratt’s kick made it 13-10.

A searing break from Harvey had the Canadian fans on their feet but Waterman - again - got back to make the killer tackle.  It was end to end stuff at times as both sides sought to play attacking rugby.

Canada had chances deep in the England half as England continues to make life difficult at clearing their lines. When Harvey stepped up to level things at 13-13 it made for the most tense of finales.

England:

1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester); 2 Emma Croker (Richmond); 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol); 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond); 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester); 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens); 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) (Captain);); 9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield); 10 Ceri Large (Worcester); 11 Claire Allan (Richmond); 12 Rachael Burford (Thurrock); 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield); 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester 15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol)Replacements:; 16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield); 17 Laura Keates (Worcester); 18 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps); 19 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond); 20 La Toya Mason (Wasps); 21 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 22 Kay Wilson (Bristol)

Canada:1. Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; 2. Kim Donaldson, (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club) Toronto, ON; 3. Hilary Leith, (Capilano RFC) North Vancouver, BC; 4. Latoya Blackwood, (St. Anne de Bellevue) Montreal, QC; 5. Maria Samson, (Calgary Hornets) Calgary, AB; 6. Jacey Murphy, (Aurora Barbarians) Alliston, ON; 7. Karen Paquin, (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; 8. Kelly Russell, Captain (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON; 9. Stephanie Bernier, (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; 10. Emily Belchos, (Markham Irish RFC) Barrie, ON; 11. Jessica Dovanne, (Velox RFC) Victoria, BC ; 12. Andrea Burk, (Capilano RFC) North Vancouver, BC; 13. Mandy Marchak, (Capilano RFC) Winnipeg, MB; 14. Magali Harvey, (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; 15. Elissa Alarie, (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Rugby Club) Trois-Rivieres, QCReplacements: 16. Laura Russell, (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON; 17. Olivia DeMerchant, (Woodstock Wildmen) Mapledale, NB; 18. Mary-Jane Kirby, (Highland RFC) Brampton, ON; 19. Tyson Beukeboom, (Aurora Barbarians) Uxbridge, ON; 20. Kayla Mack, (Wild Oats RFC) Saskatoon, SK; 21. Julianne Zussman, (Town of Mount Royal RFC) Montreal, QC; 22. Brittany Waters, (Meraloma Athletic Club) Vancouver, BC

Spain 41 Samoa 5

In a battle between Spanish technique and Samoan power, in the end it was a clear win for technique. At the start it seemed we would have a game between two well matched – if physically very different – teams. However, despite appearing to give away significant weight up front, Spain’s pack was perhaps the key for much of the game. Certainly they were responsible for Spain’s first two tries in the first half as scrums within 10m of the Samoan line were sent tumbling backwards.

In the first case, after just five minutes, a second resetting resulted in a try for Berta Garcia after captain and number eight Aigneren quickly picked up the ball bobbled out of the scrum.

The second came on 25 minutes when again a penalty initially stopped a Spanish score, before the referee eventually lost her patience and awarded a penalty try.

However Spain were no having it all their own way and in between these score Samoa spent a long period within Spain’s 22, eventually coming away with a reward after a great run by Taliiagi Mefi set up a try for Brenda Collins in the corner.

That tied the score at 5-5, but the penalty seemed to be a turning point. On 33 minutes A great break by Angela de Pan after a penalty again awarded against the Samoan pack took the score to 19-5, and the half finished with a fourth Spanish try following a brilliant piece of interplay, started by Vanesa Rial and ending with Eli Marinez in at the corner. At halftime it was Spain 24 Samoa 5.

Spain continued gain confidence and pull away in the second half. The scrum continued to be dominant, allowing captain Aigneren to break away from number 8 and touch down Spain’s fifth try by the posts ten minutes into the second half. A penalty soon followed putting Spain 34-7 ahead.

Samoa defended hard, and had their moment in the Spanish half, but Spanish patience and technical ability quashed all threats. With ten minutes left Spain were on the offensive again, retaining possession, working forward until awarded a scrum on five metres. Samoa – with much the heavier pack – continued to have no answer to Spain and the pack drove over for another try, again converted. 41-7.

Spain had one more chance to increase that score from the final play, but another penalty prevented a pushover – and the quick tap was lost forward. Even so it was a decisive win for Spain who look well placed to challenge for fifth place.

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. Bárbara Plá; 13. Irene Schiavon; 14. Berta García 15 Ana Vanesa Rial;Reserves: 16. Mª Carmen Sequedo; 17. Elena Redondo; 18. Anna Arnau, 19. María Casado; 20.Lourdes Alameda, 21. Helen Roca; 22. Iera Etxebarria

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