Scotland 41 - 0 Canada: Emphatic victory brings Autumn test series to an end

THREE players - John Barclay, Ben Cairns and Ally Strokosch - scored their first Test tries as Scotland launched a valiant bid to rescue their top eight world cup seeding with a 41-0 victory over Canada in front of 17,651 fans at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, today.

Ultimately, though, the Scots efforts were in vain as Ireland just edged out Argentina in Dublin.

Nevertheless, there was plenty for the workmanlike and efficient Scots to take forward into the Six Nations Championship as they signed off the Bank of Scotland Corporate sponsored Autumn series in style.

Walker added a second try and there was another touchdown from Rory Lamont as Canada began to be opened up in the final quarter.

Back in the city of his birth it took Walker just two minutes to put Scotland ahead with his third international try too far out for Godman to convert.

Scotland attacked down the left through a penalty quickly taken by Blair and slick handling forced an overlap for the big winger to squeeze in.

With John Barclay having a "try" chalked off via the video ref. for a foot in touch it took the Scots until the 33rd minute to increase their lead, Godman slotting a penalty from an identical position in front of the posts to where he missed against the Springboks a week earlier.

Just when it seemed the Scots might go into overdrive Walker flirted with hero to zero status by having a clearnace charged down and in the ensuing scramble Scotland were fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty try for obstruction.

Responding to the wake up call Scotland ended the half with a spectacular effort.

Nathan Hines fed out to the threequarters and Nick De Luca did brilliantly to step inside Canadian stand off Matt Evans before powering through midfield and releasing an inch-perfect pass to the supporting Ben Cairns for the Edinburgh centre to cruise over for his first Test touchdown in his fifth cap appearance.

Half time: Scotland 15, Canada 0

On the restart Scotland struck when Barclay drove over from a ruck with Godman converting while Simon Taylor intercepted at a line-out and was just reeled in after a 45 metre dash to the line.

Pressure told in the end with Strokosch crashing over from close range while in a grandstand finale Walker and Lamont both pulled away from the cover to cruise through, substitute Dan Parks claiming a conversion while Phil Godman finished with a haul of nine points.

Best for a strong scrummagig Scots were Allan Jacobsen, Euan Murray and Simon Taylor while it was encouraging to see the outside backs finding their way over the try-line.