A strong second-half performance eased Scotland to victory in the second match of their North American tour at Fletcher's Field on Saturday. The tourists scored four tries, a penalty and a conversion after the interval despite being held 8-8 by Canada in the first half.

The hosts, replenished with professional players flown in from Europe, scored first through a penalty kick by the outside-half Bobby Ross after two minutes.

Scotland responded 11 minutes later with a penalty of their own by Brendan Laney and were on the board again after 20 minutes when the wing Rory Kerr scored the first of his two tries, one in each half, after a nifty passing sequence. Duncan Hodge laid off to Kerr, who shuffled it over to the prop Craig Smith who returned to Kerr for the try. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 8-3.

Canadian pressure was rewarded in the 35th minute with a try by the prop Rod Snow, who drove over after receiving the ball from the wing Nikyta Witkowski.

Canada failed to convert and were overrun after the interval. Scotland scored two minutes into the second half through Michael Blair when his pass to Kerr was returned for him to touch down. Laney put one through the posts 10 minutes later to make it 16-8 before Kerr scored his second of the game after a move started by Blair.

In the dying seconds of normal time Andy Craig wrapped the game up after some strong support from the substitute Marcus di Rollo left him in the open to score Scotland's last try.

"I was pleased with the way we got control after half-time," said Scotland's coach Ian McGeechan. "I expected Canada to come after us. There was good play by the backs, especially since we played the second half with a very strong breeze."

Scotland will field an experimental line-up for the game against Canada West on Wednesday, with Nathan Ross and Andrew Dall making their international debuts.

Canada: Stanley; Asselin, Cannon, Barker, Witkowski; Ross, M Williams; Snow, Towes, Thiel, James, Charron (capt), Banks, Baugh, Murphy.

Try: Snow. Pen: Ross.

Scotland: G Metcalfe; Kerr, A Craig, Laney, Paterson; Hodge, Blair; Stewart, Scott, C Smith, Hines, Grimes (capt), White, Taylor, Petrie.

Tries: G Metcalfe, Kerr 2, A Craig, Hodge. Con: Laney. Pens: Laney 2.