BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Scots cruise past Canadians

Rygby Canada 8-33 Scotland

A strong second-half performance helped Scotland ease to victory against Rugby Canada at Fletcher's Field in Toronto on Saturday.

The tourists notched up four tries, a penalty kick and a conversion in the second half after closing out the first level at 8-8.

Wing Rory Kerr scored two tries, one in each half.

The Canadian select, replenished with professional players flown in from Europe, got on the scoreboard first with a penalty kick by outside-half Bobby Ross after two minutes.

Scotland responded 11 minutes later with a penalty of their own by Brendan Laney.

They were on the board again after 20 minutes with Kerr scoring a try following a nifty passing sequence.

Rejuvenated

Duncan Hodge passed off to Kerr who shuffled it over to prop Craig Smith who returned to Kerr for the try. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 8-3.

Canada, who improved their line-outs over Wednesday's game against Scotland, responded after 35 minutes with a try by prop Rod Snow.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan.
McGeechan: Pleased with his team's efforts
Snow dove in from about a metre out after getting the ball from wing Nikyta Witkowski.

The conversion failed and Canada found themselves overrun by a rejuvenated Scotland after the break.

The Scots scored just two minutes in when scrum-half Michael Blair passed the ball off to wing Kerr, and got it back to score a try.

Laney put one through the posts 10 minutes later to make it 16-8.

Kerr scored his second of the game following a move started by Blair, who spotted a gap down the blind side, drove through, and passed off to Kerr.

In the dying seconds, centre Marcus di Rollo passed off to centre Andy Craig who was in the open to score Scotland's last try.

"I was pleased the way we got control after half-time," said Scotland coach Ian McGeechan.

"I expected Canada to come after us. There was good play by the backs, especially since we played the second half with a very strong breeze."

Rugby Canada: Stanley, Asselin, Cannon, Barker, Witkowski, Ross, M. Williams, Snow, Toews, Thiel, James, Charron, Banks, Baugh, Murphy. Replacements: Dunkley, Wirachowski, Johnstone, Knaggs, Fairhurst, Nichols, Fauth.

Scotland: G. Metcalfe, Kerr, A. Craig, Laney, Paterson, Hodge, Blair, Stewart, Scott, C. Smith, Hines, Grimes, White, Taylor, Petrie. Replacements: Brotherstone, Jacobsen, Hall, MacFadyen, Burns, Hinshelwood, Di Rollo.


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