Spirited Romania see off Canada

Cape Town - Romania picked up a 21-16 victory over Canada in their November international fixture at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf on Saturday.

Canada led early on thanks to a penalty from scrum-half Gordon McRorie but on five minutes Florin Vlaicu responded to level in Bucharest.

Six minutes later the Romanians moved in front when fly-half Vlaicu crossed for a try which he converted, putting them 10-3 in the clear.

McRorie reduced matters down to four points on 15 minutes but when wing Ionu Dumitru scored Romania's second try the hosts were 15-6 ahead, before Vlaicu added another three points off the tee on 31 minutes. That was how things ended going into the dressing rooms at the break.

It took 15 minutes from the resumption before the next score and it was via a Vlaicu penalty. But McRorie responded soon after for 21-9.

Then came a morale-boosting try from Canada as replacement scrum-half Phil Mack crossed with Connor Braid's extras making it 21-16. But Romania managed to see out the closing five minutes to claim the win.