Canada Trounces Norway
Canada has kicked off its three-game European tour by trouncing Norway 56-6 in their rugby league international.
Played in rainy conditions, Thursday in Lillestrom, the Canadians dominated from start to finish and got things rolling in the opening minute when backrower Jason Chuck scored the first of his two tries. His second came less than ten minutes later, when he dotted down beside the posts following constant forward pressure. Goalkicker and winger Jalen Harrison converted those first two tries.
In response to that early setback, the Norwegians enjoyed some sustained possession of their own, but the Wolverines defended stoically to keep their tryline intact.
When the Canadians regained possession, they made it count with two more quickfire scores. This time Harrison made the home side pay by scoring a 4-pointer of his own, which was followed by left centre Fynn Murphy grounding the ball beside the posts from the restart. Harrison converted Murphy’s try to extend the Wolverines’ lead.
Norway finally hit back right on halftime with a try by Kristoffer Milligan on the back of a couple of penalties. The conversion by Idar Kjaerstad closed out the first half with Canada up by 22-6.
The second forty opened with Norway mounting a series of attacks, but again, the Wolverines fended them off and turned defence into offence. The Canadians swung the ball out wide to the right and strung together some nice passes to eventually send captain and halfback Blake Mahovic in under the posts. Another Harrison conversion pushed the visitors further ahead.
About five minutes later, Mahovic went in again, this time as a result of some individual wizardry. He sidestepped several would-be tacklers to dot down out wide. Harrison converted from an acute angle near the sideline to put the Canadians seemingly out of reach at 34-6 with more than half an hour still to go.
Canada was rewarded for keeping up the pressure when Murphy powered his way through some tiring Norwegian defence from about 10 meters out to notch his double. Despite their big lead, the Wolverines didn’t take their foot off the gas and with less than 20 minutes remaining, they scored again. Lock Matt Fish steamrolled several of Norway’s defenders to cross the line for Canada’s ninth try of the game. Harrison converted again to increase the scoreline.
The Canadians cracked the half-century mark minutes later when right centre Luka Wicken finished off yet another slick passing movement to score. Harrison added the extras to push the Wolverines out beyond Norway’s capabilities of mounting any kind of comeback.
Right winger Richard Lebel put Canada’s final stamp on proceedings with a try out wide with under five minutes left, and Harrison booted his eighth conversion of the game to close out the scoring.
Canadian head coach Aaron Zimmerle says his team’s left edge was particularly dangerous in the first half.
“The foundation of the win though, was built upon a fast-moving defensive line, particularly in the middle, that forced multiple errors from the Norwegian team in the wet,” he says. “This was led by hooker Nathan Roberts, who would have made at least 25 tackles by halftime.
“In the second half, it was the right side’s turn to get in on the action with halfback Blake Mahovic scoring two incisive tries while also unleashing his backrower Gus Murphy, who had multiple line breaks. Luka Wicken and Richard Lebel were both on the end of beautiful backline movements that went through five or more hands before they raced away to score.
“Prop Matt Fish was Man of the Match just in front of hooker Nathan Roberts. Other notable performances were 18-year-old centre Blake Marshall, who started the game with great intensity until he suffered a head knock and 19-year-old fullback Oliver Lenihan, who was dangerous every time he touched the ball.”
Canada’s next match is against Scotland on Sunday.
