Wales run riot in Cardiff
By Michael Wise
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
Wales scored nine tries on their way to a 61-26 victory against Canada in Cardiff.
For their second successive meeting Wales have notched up a 60-point total against Canada, the home nation taking a 61-26 victory in front of a sold-out Millennium Stadium.
Wales overcame the late withdrawal of Gavin Henson - the centre's ingrowing toenail promoting Sonny Parker - to score nine tries in all, with captain Gareth Thomas marking his 90th appearance with the opening score.
Matthew Rees gained his first try at full international level and Jonathan Thomas also scored a brace, with Welshman-of-the-moment James Hook marking his first start at fly-half with seven conversions from eight attempts.
Canada initially stayed in touch by dint of their opponents' habit of conceding penalties well within the range of James Pritchard.
After holding a 28-12 advantage at the interval, Wales proceeded to offer a more direct, ruthless style in the second half, with the lightning pace and change of direction of Shane Williams a highlight throughout the match.
However, Wales coach Gareth Jenkins might find cause for concern at the relative ease with which his defence let Dan Pletch and Mike Pyke score two second half consolation tries.
Canada were handed the honour of playing in their first-choice colours and it was the men in red who took an early lead, with Pritchard converting a penalty.
But Wales responded right from the kick-off, their opponents failing to clear their lines effectively and, following a grubber kick from Hook, Thomas sprinted through to touch down.
Hook converted, but Pritchard's second penalty then brought Canada back to within a point.
Wales scored their second try on the 15-minute mark and it was a fine individual effort from Williams, the winger bursting through the opposing props before dancing past two more challenges to score under the posts.
The confident Hook again kicked the extras, with Pritchard then completing his hat-trick of penalties in the 19th minute.
The in-form Mark Jones had to wait a full 24 minutes before his first touch and two minutes later - and with a third try looking likely - the winger fumbled a pass following another incisive break from Williams.
Wales' third try came four minutes later, with Hook and flanker Martyn Williams making angled passes and Dwayne Peel accelerating the move before Rees touched down.
Canada again added points when within reasonable kicking distance, Derek Daypuck this time converting a drop goal five minutes before half time to make the score 21-12.
Late Wales pressure then brought a fourth try one minute from the interval, Canada folding as the home side's dominant scrum rewarded them with a penalty score - Ryan Jones the man to touch down.
The home side made a flying start to the second half, with Jones again touching down for no reward - an obstruction from Jonathan Thomas having cleared the number eight's path.
But the home fans only had to wait four minutes for the fifth try, Peel (pictured) exploiting a yawning gap in the Canadian line-out to sprint through unopposed.
A floating pass from Hook then put Gareth Thomas through in the 48th minute, but a late covering tackle from Pritchard saw the captain lose the ball before grounding.
With play moved back five yards the Welsh offensive continued, with Mark Jones subsequently making the same mistake as his captain.
Canada eventually capitulated from the resulting scrum, Peel breaking before an angled run from Jonathan Thomas rewarded him with Wales' sixth try.
Thomas then scored his second in as many minutes, Wales winning the numbers game as the flanker finished off a flowing move from left to right.
Hook's 100 percent record promptly disappeared, however, with Canadian pressure then rewarding them with a try in the 58th minute, replacement prop Pletch going over with Pritchard converting.
The deluge of tries Wales seemed to promise at the start of the second half was receding on the hour mark as Canada clawed back both territory and possession.
But momentum was restored after 65 minutes when replacement Ceri Sweeney picked up a pass from Shane Williams to dart in by the posts.
Another period of pressure from the visitors then saw Pyke sprint through to score on 74 minutes, with Pritchard again kicking the extras.
But a mistake from the number 11 gifted Tom Shanklin a try three minutes later, the centre gratefully in receipt of a misplaced pass to cross over unopposed.
