Wales make heavy work of Canada - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Wales make heavy work of Canada

By Richard Wheatstone 15/11/2008 10:10:25 AM Comments (0)

Wales made heavy work of an inexperienced Canada side when posting an unconvincing 34-13 win at the Millennium Stadium.

Two tries from teenager Leigh Halfpenny and two penalty tries followed Morgan Stoddart's early score to put the test beyond the visitors.

But a knee injury to James Hook has left Wales coach Warren Gatland with added concern ahead of the final two tests against Australia and New Zealand on top of his team's inability to finish off opponents below them in the world rankings.

Canada were comprehensively beaten 55-0 by Ireland last weekend and the near 60,000 Welsh crowd were expecting a comfortable victory despite fielding an under-strength side.

Wales made 12 changes to the team that were edged out by world champions South Africa, and the new look side got off to a nervy start, allowing Canada to take an early lead after 10 minutes when James Pritchard put his penalty between the posts from close range.

With Wales struggling to find a rhythm, Canada happily stayed on the back foot and absorbed the pressure.

The Canadian resistance was finally broken after 24 minutes when Stoddart squeezed over in the corner just a minute after Halfpenny had been stopped five metres short on the opposite flank.

It took 19-year-old Halfpenny to spare Wales' blushes, after he wove through the Canadian defence and kept his feet after a heavy tackle to go over.

Wales started the second half in lively fashion and moved seven points ahead but Canada continued to threaten as the game drew to a close.

Halfpenny ran in a blistering counter-attack in the final act of the game and make the score-line more comfortable at 34-13.

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