The Canada Ravens have stamped themselves as the premier women’s rugby league team in North America with a one-sided 64-2 win against Jamaica to clinch the inaugural Americas North Championship.
The Canadians steamrolled the women Reggae Warriors in the final game of the series Wednesday at the University of West Indies in Kingston.
The Ravens scored a total of 12 tries, six in each half. Among the players who got on the board were winger Ferris Sandboe, forward Fedelia Angeles and fullback Petra Woods, all of whom got two apiece.
Kickoff was delayed for 15 minutes because of a thunderstorm that passed over the UWI Mona Bowl, but when play got underway, the Canadians were quick to score when five-eighth Dani Franada blocked an attempted Jamaican clearance kick in the first minute and dotted down in the try zone.
Sandboe was next to score nabbing the first of her double not long afterwards. However, the next quarter hour was marred by sloppy play by both teams. Dropped balls, knock-ons and unforced errors all resulted from both sides pushing passes unnecessarily instead of settling things by taking the tackle.
A second lightning strike about midway through the half forced another 15-minute delay, but when play resumed, the Ravens put their foot on the gas and started to take over.
Right center Maddy Aberg, lock Liz Steele, interchange forward Angeles all scored tries. Franada also found her goalkicking form and converted all four scores for a 32-0 halftime lead.
As was the case in their first match against the United States, the Jamaican women again were flat footed, offered little in the way of offense and just ran out of puff.
On top of that, they did not break one tackle during the whole game and their lack of match fitness showed with players needing treatment for injuries, particularly in the second half.
Angeles, who was named Canada’s MVP, was the first to score a try in the second stanza off one of her many hard runs before Woods got her brace, Sandboe crossed for her second, hooker and captain Gabrielle Hindley added another and prop Sarah Maguire closed things out with the final try of the game. Franada converted four of the tries.
Jamaica finally got on the scoreboard when halfback Alicia Richards, who was voted the Reggae Warriors’ MVP, kicked a penalty goal late in proceedings.
Wednesday’s win by Canada followed their victory over the USA women Hawks on Monday and secured the Ravens the Americas North Championship title.
