10.45pm - By WYNNE GRAY in Melbourne
WALES 41 CANADA 10
Wales claimed the first scalp in the "minnows" division of the All Black pool with a 41-10 victory tonight against Canada in Melbourne.
Neither side's skills compared with some of the top-grade teams seen in the opening games, but that would have
been of little consequence for Wales - victory was their primary aim.
And when they claimed a precious bonus point and a decent lead by the start of the last quarter, coach Steve Hansen was able to use most of his reserves.
Hansen had insisted that victory was imperative in the drive to qualify for the quarter-finals in the dog-fight with Tonga, Italy and Canada.
League convert Iestyn Harris, rumoured to be returning to that code next season, was the undoubted star for Wales. He attacked the defence consistently to set up several tries, while his vision and goalkicking was sharp.
A consistent contributor to World Cups, Canada remain enthusiastic and committed opponents, but they are now too reliant on players in their mid-30s, such as skipper Al Charron, Dave Lougheed, Rod Snow or five-eighths Bob Ross, who has played test rugby since 1989.
Canada began strongly, keeping the ball tight working for field position, but lacked any great attacking ideas against a tenacious Welsh defence.
They had early success when Ross put over a dropped goal from close range.
Minutes later, hard down on his own line , Ross was knocked over, late and high by loose-forward Colin Charvis.
That offence earned the Welsh skipper 10 minutes in the sinbin, but his side responded and scored a converted try.
They stole a Canadian lineout throw and 70m later, New Zealand-born centre Sonny Parker scored to make it 13 successive tries for New Zealanders at Telstra Dome after the 11 from the All Blacks and one from Italy's NZ-born No 8 Matthew Phillips.
That New Zealand connection was broken when Gareth Cooper scored from a Harris break, Mark Jones did likewise, and skipper Charvis wheeled over from a maul for the bonus-point touchdown.
Scorers:
Wales 41 (Sonny Parker, Gareth Cooper, Mark Jones, Colin Charvis, Gareth Thomas tries; Iestyn Harris 2 pen, 5 con)
Canada 10 (Kevin Tkachuk try; James Pritchard con, Bob Ross dropped goal).
Halftime: 20-3.
Yellow cards: Colin Charvis (Wales), Sonny Parker (Wales)
- REUTERS
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10.45pm - By WYNNE GRAY in Melbourne
WALES 41 CANADA 10
Wales claimed the first scalp in the "minnows" division of the All Black pool with a 41-10 victory tonight against Canada in Melbourne.
Neither side's skills compared with some of the top-grade teams seen in the opening games, but that would have
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