Canada warmed up for their Rugby World Cup final rematch with England in Exeter next weekend with a comfortable victory over Scotland at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday..
The visitors opened their WXV Global Series campaign with a 64-26 triumph, scoring 10 tries in the process with scrum-half Olivia Apps a driving force and named player of the match.
Scotland did well in patches in their first game under the leadership of interim head coach Dave Butcher as their new era begins, but were frustrated by their first half showing.
After wheelchair rugby league player Olivia Fulton had delivered the match ball in front of a crowd of 2,721, Canada took the lead after five minutes when a quick tap by Apps put back-row Lizzie Gibson over for a try which full-back Claire Gallagher converted.
Apps, who was controlling the game at this stage, then sniped round the corner out wide for try number two five minutes later and it was 12-0.
Scotland got themselves into things with a close range try by back-row Evie Gallagher converted by stand-off Helen Nelson, but by the end of the first quarter it was 19-7 after Gibson scored her second try.
After winger Charity Williams had a try disallowed on her debut, Canada’s fourth and fifth tries came via loosehead prop Brittany Kassil and back-row Julia Omokhuale and they were 31-7 up after half an hour.
Scotland then turned defence into attack to score their second try through winger Shona Campbell before Apps had a try disallowed and it was 31-12 at half-time.
Canada started the second half at the same pace as they started the first and their sixth and seventh tries came from stand-off Taylor Perry and Apps.
Canada No.8 Gabrielle Senft was then yellow carded in the 53rd minute and then, three minutes later, Kassil was also sin binned for head on head contact.
Against 13 players, Scotland hooker Lana Skeldon scored a try and it was 45-19 heading into the final quarter.
Sub Justine Pelletier scored for 13-player Canada to make it 52-19 before Kassil’s yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
Winger Rhona Lloyd bagged Scotland’s fourth try with seven minutes to go before Senft and sub Savannah Bauder scored and it finished 64-26. In the second half, scrum-half Ceitidh Ainsworth and winger Katie Buchanan made their Scotland debuts of the bench.
Next up in the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – is New Zealand on September 19 and then Scotland are hosting Australia on September 26, both at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Canada were just too strong for Scotland – thanks to Ruby Adam Photography
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk