Matchday two at the Women’s Rugby World Cup wrought mixed fortunes for the home nations as Scotland secured their progression and Wales were sent packing after a heavy loss to Canada.
Scotland booked their spot in the quarter-finals after battling to a 29-15 win over resilient Fiji at Salford Community Stadium.
While they were 10-0 up after 10 minutes, Scotland were put through their paces in a hard-fought match, with two of their four tries arriving when Fiji were down to 14 with players in the sin-bin.
After scoring in less than a minute in Scotland's 38-8 win over Wales last weekend, Francesca McGhie needed just 94 seconds to open her account as Fiji were caught cold by Emma Orr's hack down the pitch, which McGhie dove on for a first try of the day.
Fiji's bad start continued when Vika Matarugu was yellow-carded for a high challenge on Ellian Clarke. Scotland took full advantage with their opponents down to 14 as Evie Gallagher handed off to Helen Nelson down the short side from a scrum before Lloyd finished in the right corner in the 10th minute.
Fiji, though, gradually started to find some rhythm as the first half wore on and following Nunia Daunimoala's stunning break forward, the ball was worked to Loraini Senivutu to go over in the corner.
Scotland, though, responded well to the setback as a driving maul got them close to the Fiji line, with the ball worked to the left flank for McGhie to step inside Kolora Lomani after 56 minutes.
After Bitila Tawake was sin-binned for a shoulder-to-head challenge on Elis Martin, Orr collected the ball on halfway and shrugged off a couple of challenges for a fantastic solo try on the right. Karalaina Naisewa barrelled over with five minutes remaining before Salote Nailolo received Fiji's third yellow card late on.
Up in Salford, Wales had a far more challenging outing. They needed a win to keep their hopes of progression alive, but were handily beaten 42-0 by dark horses Canada.
They dominated territory and possession early on but went 28-0 down just after the half-hour as McKinley Hunt's two tries and one each for Alysha Corrigan and Asia Hogan-Rochester put Canada on top.
Taylor Perry and Brittany Kassil touched down after the break, when Georgia Evans was yellow-carded and Sophie de Goede converted all six tries as Canada laid down a marker for their title aspirations.
They have sealed a spot in the last eight after Scotland's win over Fiji, which also confirmed Wales' elimination. Wales and Fiji will contest a Pool B dead rubber in Exeter next weekend.
