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VANCOUVER – The England women's rugby team won a second consecutive WXV title on Saturday, defeating Canada 21-12 in the final of the international tournament.
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Maud Muir, Sarah Bern and Zoe Aldcroft all tried their hand at it, while Helena Rowland scored three conversions for the Red Roses.
Justine Pelletier and Alex Tessier represented Canada. Tessier also contributed to the conversion.
The Canadians took the lead midway through the second half, scoring on a penalty kick, but were unable to maintain their advantage.
England went undefeated throughout the tournament and remain at the top of the world rankings with 20 straight wins. The team has not lost since defeating New Zealand in the World Cup final in November 2022.
The world No. 2 Canadians finished with a 2-1-0 record after earlier victories over fourth-ranked France and sixth-ranked Ireland.
Canada opened the scoring in the fourth minute Saturday after Pelletier picked the ball up from a pile in front of the goal line. She was beaten but found space to turn and touch the ball, giving the hosts an early 5-0 lead.
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The Red Roses quickly responded with a quick drive up the field.
Alex Matthews collected the ball from the scrum and ran to the line, where Canada stopped it. However, the visitors regrouped and Muir tried to make his way through the traffic. Rowland hit the bull's-eye and England increased to 7-5 in the 10th minute.
Both sides then engaged in defensive combat.
England controlled 61 percent of the possession in the first half, but Canada withstood the pressure and suffered turnovers that forced the visitors back on the field again and again.
The Canadians created plenty of chances late in the match, including: in the 39th minute when Paige Farries came close to having a try but was stopped.
Until the break, England maintained a 7-5 advantage, but the Red Roses' problems began at the beginning of the second half.
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Ellie Killdune was sent to the penalty spot in the 44th minute after Canadian Pamphinette Buisa was tackled while running down the field. The Canadians initially struggled to take advantage, but continued to grind away.
In the 51st minute, Tessier slipped through the England line, ran up the pitch and slid into the pitch. She then sent a kick through the uprights to give Canada a 12-7 lead.
Bern regained England's lead in the 67th minute, breaking a Canadian tackle on the goal line and stretching out for a touch. Rowland's conversion was good and the Red Roses went up 14-12.
Aldcroft sealed the win with a try in the 81st minute and Rowland kicked the final kick at the posts before the horn sounded.
On Saturday, New Zealand defeated France 39-14.
Now in its second year, WXV is a three-tier tournament featuring top-flight teams drawn from the top three finishers from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and the Women's Six Nations Championship (England, France and Ireland).
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