Canada dominated the final of the women’s rugby competition at the Pan-Am Games, defeating the USA 55-7.

The Eagles opened the scoring with a nicely-taken long-range try from Kristen Thomas, but after that, Canada controlled all. They poached brilliantly at the ruck, and either re-won their restarts or pinned the USA deep in their 22 and exerted pressure from here.

It all worked for Canada as Ashley Steacy powered through for a try, and then Karen Paquin and Ghislaine Landry scored right after. The USA hardly got a sniff of the ball, and when they did, they lost it in contact.

Brilliant ball-handling from Canada - who started a different lineup from the one that had beaten the USA earlier in the day - meant that every turnover was turned into go-forward.

The Eagles mounted a late attack, but even that didn’t work, as a turnover led to a game-capping try for Paquin - her third of the game.

Paquin and Magali Harvey tied for the tournament lead with eight tries, while Thomas ended up with seven.

Gold Medal match
Canada 55
Tries: Steacy 2, Paquin 3, Landry 2, Kish, Harvey
Cons: Landry 2, Steacy 3

USA 7
Tries: Thomas
Cons: Johnson

Final Pan-Am Women’s Rugby Placements:

Gold: Canada
Silver: USA
Bronze: Brazil
4th: Argentina
5th: Mexico
6th: Colombia