Canada hold on against Namibia

Nanyak Dala's second-half try proved just enough for Canada as they hung on for a 17-13 win over Namibia in Colwyn Bay.

After going down to a Championship XV last week, the Canadians were pushed very hard by Namibia, for whom Jacques Burger scored late on.

Gordon McRorie was the star of the show in the first half for Canada, slotting two early penalties to make it 6-0.

Theuns Kotze hit back for Namibia with a penalty of his own, with both kickers adding a further three-pointer before the break to make it 9-6 to Canada at half-time, while Namibia were down to 14 after a sin-binning for flanker Rohan Kitshoff.

Another McRorie penalty early in the second half stretched the lead back to six, before flanker Dala grabbed his fourth Test try on the right after sustained pressure.

McRorie missed the conversion but Canada were in complete control leading 17-6.

They were not able to add to that score though, and with five minutes remaining, Saracens flanker Burger went over from a five-metre lineout and the conversion made it 17-13 with time running out.

Namibia couldn't find their way through for a winning score though, as Canada held on ahead of a clash with Samoa next weekend.

The scorers:

For Canada:
Try:  Dala
Pens:  McRorie 4

For Namibia:
Try:  Burger
Con:  Kotze
Pens:  Kotze 2
Yellow Cards:  Kitshoff

The teams:

Canada:  15 DTH van der Merwe, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 Sean Duke, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 John Moonlight, 7 Nanyak Dala, 6 Kyle Gilmour, 5 Jebb Sinclair, 4 Tyler Hotson, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Ray Barkwill, 1 Hubert Buydens (capt).
Replacements:  16 Doug Wooldridge, 17 Ryan Hamilton, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Brett Buekeboom, 20 Aaron Carpenter, 21 Sean White, 22 Patrick Parfrey, 23 Jordan Wilson-Ross.

Namibia:  15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Darryl de la Harpe, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 David Philander, 10 Theuns Kotz