In a devastating twist of fate at the Rugby World Cup, Scotland's heroic campaign was brought to a crushing halt by a resilient Canadian side, who clinched a dramatic 22-12 victory with a try in the dying moments of a pulsating quarter-final clash.
The match, played out in front of a fervent crowd in London, was a brutal, physical arm-wrestle from the first whistle. Scotland's defence, a fortress for much of the tournament, was finally breached, conceding three tries to a Canadian team that grew stronger as the clock wound down.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a tense, tactical affair dominated by the boot. Both teams traded penalties, with Scotland's Helen Nelson and Canada's Sophie de Goede keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The sides went into the break locked at 9-9, with everything still to play for.
However, the second half saw Canada begin to impose their powerful forward game. The breakthrough finally came from prop McKinley Hunt, who bulldozed her way over the line after a sustained period of pressure. While Nelson slotted another penalty to keep Scottish hopes alive at 14-12, the momentum had decisively shifted.
Last-Minute Agony Seals Scotland's Fate
With the outcome hanging in the balance, Canada delivered the final, decisive blow. In the final minute of play, they executed a flawless set-piece move from a scrum, sending replacement Fabiola Forte over in the corner. The conversion was a mere formality, extinguishing Scottish dreams and booking Canada's place in the semi-finals.
The result marks a bitterly disappointing end to an otherwise impressive tournament for Bryan Easson's squad, who had captured the hearts of fans with their determined performances. For Canada, the hard-fought win sets up a monumental semi-final showdown against the tournament favourites, England.
