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A 35-point first half gave Spain more than enough points to put away Canada in La Vila on Saturday. With a final tally of six tries to two and a score of 42-20, Los Leones booked their place opposite the USA in next weekend’s mini-tourney finale. Canada will take on Brazil.
The Maple Leafs were first on the board through an early penalty from Peter Nelson, but the Leones had an instant response. A flowing attack saw John-Wessel Bell connecting with Jordi Jorba, who passed back inside to Tani Bay in support for the finish. The scrumhalf soon has a double, finding a gap on the edge of a ruck and stepping clean through to make it 14-3.
In the background Canada lost DJ Sears-Duru to an arm injury, replaced by Liam Murray. A scrappy period followed with Nelson chipping over a second penalty goal, but again Spain were in a try-scoring mood. This time a long kick ahead took an awkward bounce and deflected off Jorba to Ekain Imaz. The No8 took off on a 40-meter gallop to score with Iñaki Mateu adding his third conversion.
Nelson found himself in trouble when he stuck an arm out to disrupt an attack from Gonzalo López. The officials deemed it prevented a line break, and a yellow was brandished to the Canadian fullback. Three minutes later Spain had scored twice, once with López slicing through the middle and then from the restart Bay broke to the right and freed Martiniano Cian for a length-of-the-field effort.
Play slowed down in the second half and as frustrations built for Canada their discipline suffered. Jason Higgins was binned for taking out Bay from an offside position, but this time Spain could not take advantage. Their own discipline quickly came under question and gave away possession and field position to the Canadians.
After a long stalemate the Canadians finally got the try they were looking for when Cole Keith drove over from close range. Not long after Mitch Richardson dipped under a tackle to touch down under the posts. Nelson converted both efforts to make it 35-20 with a dozen minutes to play.
That would end Canada’s comeback, however, as the Spanish forwards went to work for a sixth try. It would come from a lineout drive with replacement prop Marcos Muñiz coming up with the ball in his test debut. Mateu capped a six-from-six day off the tee and the final minutes ticked away without incident.
SCORING
SPAIN 42
Tries (6) – T. Bay 2 (5′, 13′), E. Imaz (30′), G. López (37′), M. Cian (39′), M. Muñiz (76′)
Cons (6) – I. Mateu 6/6 (6′, 14′, 31′, 38′, 40′, 77′)
CANADA 20
Tries (2) – C. Keith (64′), M. Richardson (68′)
Cons (2) – P. Nelson 2/2 (65′, 69′)
Pens (2) – P. Nelson 2/2 (4′, 27′)
YC (2) – P. Nelson (36′), J. Higgins (47′)
TEAMS
SPAIN
1 Thierry Futeu (17 Marcos Muñiz 65′), 2 Álvaro García (16 Santiago Ovejero 51′), 3 Jon Zabala (capt.) (18 Joaquín Domínguez 58′), 4 Mario Pichardie, 5 Alejandro Suárez (20 Pepe Borraz 61′), 6 Facundo Domínguez (20 Pepe Borraz 9′-20′), 7 Matt Foulds, 8 Ekain Imaz (19 Marc Sánchez 71′), 9 Tani Bay (21 Ike Irusta 58′), 10 Iñaki Mateu, 11 Jordi Jorba, 12 Gonzalo López (23 Federico Casteglioni 48′), 13 Álvar Gimeno, 14 Martiniano Cian, 15 John-Wessel Bell (22 Pau Aira 56′)
CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Liam Murray 14′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Foster DeWitt 71′), 3 Cole Keith (18 Conor Young 65′), 4 Izzak Kelly, 5 Conor Keys (20 Siaki Vikilani 78′), 6 Kyle Baillie (19 Mason Flesch 60′), 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Josiah Morra (23 Andrew Coe 58′), 12 Gabe Casey (22 Mitch Richardson 65′), 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Isaac Olson, 15 Peter Nelson
Not used: 21 Reid Watkins
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Venue: El Pantano, Villajoyosa
