MEMBERS of the Scotland party were putting in a shift even as the first supporters filtered in an hour before kick-off. Ally Hogg, excluded from the 22 but not matchday chores, helped ground-staff brush a layer of morning snow from the pitch. The theme was to persist. Scotland rolled their sleeves up and got the job done, crossing the Canadian line half a dozen times to leave their winning margin in a respectable position between those secured by Wales and Ireland in the past two weeks.

Ireland’s defeat of Argentina means that Scotland will be in the third band of seeds when the draw for the 2011 World Cup takes place, but there is a certain amount of comfort to be taken from the here and now. Scotland were better than expected against New Zealand and South Africa, and more than good enough here.

Frank Hadden’s side scored their first try with barely three minutes on the clock, Mike Blair and Phil Godman ferrying the ball smartly left to Nikki Walker who went over in the corner. Ben Cairns completed, and celebrated, his first international score, shortly after with a gusto that warmed the crowd’s spirits on what was a biting afternoon, even by Aberdeen’s esoteric standards.

A series of close-range drives early in the second half nudged Scotland ever closer to the tipping point they sought, allowing Alasdair Strokosch to surface and trample his way over. Like Cairns, this was his first try for Scotland. John Barclay was soon to have his moment as well, as Blair and made space for Rory Lamont, who in turn found his openside down in the right corner.

Canada, predictably, frayed a little at the edges in the final quarter, allowing Scotland to apply a layer of gloss. A magnificent offload from Scott Gray, as the substitute went to ground, found the Walker’s piercing angle and a Dan Parks conversion from the touchline took the score to 36-0. The final five points were added when Max Evans, another substitute, popped up on the right to glide away from the cover and feed Lamont who went over.

SCOTLAND:R Lamont (Sale Sharks); S Webster (Edinburgh, M Evans (Glasgow) 64min), B Cairns (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh), N Walker (Ospreys); P Godman (Edinburgh, D Parks (Glasgow) 58min), M Blair (Edinburgh, capt, R Lawson (Gloucester) 58min); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh, D Hall (Glasgow) 64 min), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Perpignan), J Hamilton (Edinburgh, M Mustchin (Edinburgh) 75min), A Strokosch (Gloucester), J Barclay (Glasgow, A Dickinson (Gloucester) 51min), S Taylor (Stade Français)

CANADA:J Pritchard (Bedford); S Duke (University of Victoria), C Hearn (Castaway Wanderers, B Keys (Velox Valhallians) 61min), R Smith (Calgary Irish), J Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion); M Evans (Hartpury College, N Hirayama (University of Victoria) 47min), E Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates, capt, M Williams, (James Bay) 52min); K Tkachuk (Glasgow, F Walsh (Vandals) 67min), M Pletch (Velox Valhallians), S Franklin (Cornish Pirates), T Hotson (Northern Suburbs), J Jackson (Bordeaux Begles, M Burak (Cornish Pirates) 52min), J Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers), A Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins, S Stephen (Plymouth Albion) 72min), A Kleeberger (University of Victoria)

Star man:Nikki Walker (Scotland) Scorers: Scotland: Tries:Walker 2, 70, Cairns 37, Barclay 42, Strokosch 56, Lamont 73Cons: Godman (3) Parks.Pen:Godman

Referee:G Clancy (Ireland) Attendance:17,651