INTERNATIONAL Australian rules football returned to North America over the weekend as the Canada Northern Lights took out the 49th Parallel Cup with a nine-point win over the USA Freedom.

In windy conditions down in Racine Wisconsin, the Americans came to rue missed opportunities with inaccuracy and fatigue really costing them against a Canada side who made the most of their chances.

The conditions hampered scoring early with neither side able to put a major on the board in the first term.

Despite having to kick against the wind in the second term, it was the Americans who were quick out of the blocks in the second term with a pair of inside 50s in the opening minutes. Unfortunately for the Americans though neither inside 50 resulted in a score.

After much of the play was between the arcs early in the second term, eventually the Canadians were able to make the Americans pay properly when Aimee Legault popped up to slot through the first goal of the game for the Canadians.

That goal seemed to spark a boost for the Canadians, who attacked the game with a bit more energy for the rest of the quarter. The Americans certainly had their chances to score with plenty of inside 50s, but could not make them count. Ultimately it was the Canadians who took a one-goal lead into the main break.

It was the Americans who enjoyed forward territory dominance early in the third term, and finally got some true reward for effort when Kim Hemenway slotted through the Americans’ first goal to give the Freedom the lead.

The Americans continued to pepper their goals but thanks to a strong defence from the Northern Lights the Freedom were unable to convert those chances into any goals. Canada however could not score either, not even making it into their forward 50 until late in the quarter.

With the Northern Lights unable to add to their half-time score, it was the Freedom who took a slim four point lead into the final change. Canada was quick to use the wind to its advantage early in the last term, as an Anna Brancati goal saw the Northern Lights retake the lead.

Canada continued to pepper the goals but could not land that one final blow of a goal. It did eventually come, and things got much harder for the Americans to get back in the game, especially since they did not have the aid of the wind.

That proved to be the final score of the game as Canada came away with a nine-point win. Earlier in the day both countries also played off in a Reserves Match, with the Canadians prevailing by three points after a last quarter fightback from the Americans.