[Photo: Canada must not be lured into contact against Trinidad & Tobago. Ian Muir photo]

As expected, Canada is into the women’s NACRA 7s championship final after their 42-0 semifinal win over Mexico. Not nearly as predictable, Canada’s opponent will be Trinidad & Tobago, which defeated Jamaica 22-5 in their final four match.

Canada has showed no signs of weariness, primarily because they’ve been on offense nearly all weekend. But as Canada knows firsthand, T&T is especially physical, and that mindset can throw off the most disciplined of teams.

T&T delivered body-folding tackles to Jamaica, and that eventually threw the favorites out of their game. Jamaica started doubting itself, relying on arm tackles, and pulling back on aggression. Once that that wall crumbled, T&T ran out to a 22-5 win.

Canada manipulated Mexico just as it had during the first round of pool play; however, the underdogs managed to cut the point differential by 20 points. Julia Zussman and captain Jenn Kish both accounted for two tries apiece, while Magali Harvey, Britt Benn, Lisa Gauthier and Amanda Thornborough all dotted down. Some were nice individual efforts, like Gauthier’s bait-and-go run around multiple defenders; others were full team efforts, like Benn’s try, which Kish initiated from a turnover in the tackle, followed by a nice flow of hands to the line.

Canada handled Trinidad & Tobago quite easily in pool play – 39-0 – so a similar result should be expected.