Canada romped to a record-setting eleven try win over Barbados in Bridgetown Barbados on Saturday in beating the Caribbean Island nation 71-3 in their 2007 Rugby World Cup Qualifying match.


Wing James Pritchard also set a Canadian record in scoring three tries and kicking eight conversions, for a 31 points total, surpassing Gareth Rees’ record of 27 points. 20 year-old DTH Van der Merwe scored two tries, in his debut, in his second-half of play after coming on to replace Mike Pyke at fullback.


On the strength of a hat trick of tries by wing James Pritchard, Canada romped to a 45-0 half-time lead over Barbados in the first forty-minutes in front of 1000 fans. Centre Ryan Smith, #8 Sean-Michael Stephen, scrum-half Morgan Williams and fullback Mike Pyke also touched down. Pritchard converted five of the tries in contributing 25 points to Canada’s cause in the first-half.


Kert Johnston gave Barbados its only points at three minutes into the second-half from a penalty kick, before Canada went back on the offense. Ten minutes after coming into the match 20 year-old DTH Van der Merwe scored his first try for Canada, with wing Justin Mensah-Cocker adding another try at 55 minutes to the two he scored against the USA last weekend in Edmonton.

Follow up:

Flanker Adam Kleeberger claimed his first Canadian try with a minute to go and DTH Van der Merwe finishing off the rout with his second on the full-time whistle. James Pritchard converted three of the second-half tries to bring his final points haul to 31 points – a new Canadian record surpassing the 27 points Gareth Rees scored against Namibia in 1999. Final Score 71-3.

“Conditions were very hot,” commented Manager Bob McGeein following the match. “ But the team coped well and kept up the pressure for the full match.”

While today’s win is not the most points Canada has recorded in a match, the win sets a winning margin record surpassing the 72-11 score Canada recorded against Namibia in the final game of its 1999 World Cup in Toulouse and it also sets a try-scoring record with eleven surpassing the previous nine try total notched against Namibia in ’99.


The victorious Canadian players will attend a reception this evening and will fly back to their Canadian and overseas homes on Sunday. Canada’s next international match will take place against the USA in St. John’s, Newfoundland on August 12, as Canada’s qualifying journey to the 2007 Rugby World Cup continues.


Barbados will face the USA in Santa Clara, California on July 1st.
That game will be televised on ESPNU, which we get at the clubhouse.



Source: Rugby Canada