Canada win in Ottawa

Canada beat Portugal 42-12 at Twin Elm Park in Nepean on Saturday.  It was a first Test between the two countries.

It was Portugal's second defeat of their tour after losing to a Canada Select 24-18 last Saturday.  Their next warm-up match is against Japan in Lisbon.  For the Portuguese this is all an exciting process, regardless of results.  After all they are preparing for their first World Cup ever.

DHT van der Merwe, the promising young wing, scored a hat-trick of tries for Canada Select against Portugal and another two for Canada.  Canada scored six tries to two.

But Portugal were willing and determined and scored early on through an intercept but the Canadians were too strong for the visitors, who were be the World Cup's most amateur team, in the second half.

Canada attacked from the start and from a set scrum the ball went wide to fullback Mike Pyke who scored.  5-0 after four minutes.

Then the Lobs shocked the home side when centre Diogo Mateus intercepted a pass from Canada's flyhalf Ryan Smith and ran some 60 metres to score a try which Pedro Cabral converted and Portugal led 7-5.

Canada got the lead back when James Pritchard goaled a penalty.  8-5 after 14 minutes.

Veteran prop Jon Thiel stretched and scored next when Canada mauled a post-penalty line-out.  Pritchard converted.  15-7 after 17 minutes.

On half-time Canada attacked and spun the ball wide to Van der Merwe who raced over in the corner.  20-7.

Early in the second half Pritchard goaled a second penalty, David Spicer scored a try and Van der Merwe scored his second try.  Then Ryan Smith broke well to send centre Craig Cupan speeding downfield before off-loading to replacement Justin Mensah-Coker who scored with his first touch of the ball.  It was a splendid long-range try.  42-7.

Portugal had the last word when they went slowly up the field and sent José Pinto over in the corner for the last try of the match.

Scorers:

For Canada:
Tries:  Pyke, Thiel, Van der Merwe 2, Mensah-Coker, Spicer
Cons:  Pritchard 3
Pens:  Pritchard 2

For Portugal
Tries:  Mateus, José Pinto
Con:  Pedro Leal

Teams

Canada:  15 Mike Pyke, 14 DTH van der Merwe, 13 Craig Culpan, 12 David Spicer, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Ryan Smith, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Sean-Michael Stephen, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Mike James (captain), 4 Luke Tait, 3 Jon Thiel, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Rod Snow
Replacements:  16 Aaron Carpenter, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Mike Pletch, 19 Mike Burak, 20 Colin Yukes, 21 Matt Weingart, 22 Justin Mensah-Coker
Coach:  Ric Suggitt, John Tait, Glen Ella, Kevin Wirachowski

Portugal:  15 Pedro Leal, 14 Antonio Aguilar, 13 Frederico Sousa, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Pedro Carvalho, 10 Pedro Cabral, 9 Luis Pissarra, 8 Vasco Uva, 7 João Uva, 6 Diogo Coutinho, 5 Juan Severino, 4 Goncalo Uva (captain), 3 Cristian Spacuhk, 2 Joaquain Ferreira, 1 Juan Murre
Replacements:  16.  Andre Silva, 17.  Joao Correia, 18.  David Penalva, 19.  Pedro Murinello, 20.  José Pinto, 21.  Duarte Pinto, 22.  Miguel Portela.
Coaches:  Tomas Morais

Referee:  Christophe Berdos (France)