Canada produced a spectacular comeback to deny Wales a major scalp and an autumn series clean sweep.

But Canada showed why they are the world’s third best team with a superb second-half display.

There were tries for Courtney Holtkamp, DaLeaka Menin, Sabrina Poulin and Ngalula Fuamba.

Wales were arguably the better side in the first half and looked set to back up wins over Japan and South Africa as they took the game to Canada.

The driving maul once again proved to be their main weapon and it made early ground in the opening stages, winning three successive penalties.

Impatient with the infringements, referee Aurelie Groiseleau reached for her cards and sent Canada lock Tyson Beukeboom to the sin bin.

A player up, Wales kicked for touch and once again Phillips showed her prowess at the lineout, finding her target, controlling the drive from the base and crashing over when the line came in sight.

Canada, who looked dangerous in the first half of their 51-12 defeat to England, showed a glimpse of their attacking threat when last week’s try scorer Poulin showed an impressive turn of speed in chasing her own kick, but the dead ball line came too soon for the flying winger.

Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan could have done with an extra ounce of pace when she found herself tearing down the wing after a blindside snipe, but she was chopped down agonisingly short of the line.

Canada suffered a major blow just after half an hour when they lost their skipper DeMarchant.

The prop came under the TMO spotlight for a high tackle on flanker Bethan Lewis and, while there was no intent, the referee had no choice but to show her a red card when there was shoulder to head contact.

A rallied Wales went through several phases of attack, but like in previous games lacked the clinical edge to convert pressure into points before the half-time whistle.

Canada flew out of the blocks after the break, sparking a huge momentum swing and Wales’ defence came under huge pressure as they conceded penalty after penalty.

Visiting hooker Veronica Harrigan looked to have wrestled her way over the line, but the TMO was once again called upon as Siwan Lillicrap alerted the referee to an obstruction on Georgia Evans.

A furious Canada served more of the same and were not to be denied when Holtkamp crossed from close range.

As the affair became edgy, Wales lost their discipline and Phillips saw yellow for not rolling away in the tackle. Her absence would prove costly as Canada continued to bully Wales.

Alexandra Tessier, who previously missed a conversion in front of the posts, turned down a kickable penalty feeling Wales were there for the taking.

It paid dividends as Canada began to run riot in one-way traffic.

There were close-range tries for forwards Menin and Ngalula either side of a fine solo effort by Poulin, whose pace gave the final defender no chance.

It was not to be for Wales, they had a sniff of what would have been a major victory, but they can be encouraged that they went toe-to-toe with one of the leading forces in women’s rugby for 40 minutes.

There were some celebrations for Wales players though, as centre Hannah Jones was proposed to be her boyfriend Dino Dallavalle in front of her team mates on the pitch at Cardiff Arms Park.

Dallavalle is a prop with Llandovery who has represented Italy Under-20s and played against Wales.

Jones said yes.

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham told BBC Two Wales: It’s been excellent putting the new structures in place, a new coaching group, spending quality time together as a team, improving from Japan and South Africa, and some great learnings tonight from this game.

“I’m happy with the whole campaign really.”

Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap said: “Canada are a good outfit, they’re not third in the world for no reason, they come here with fire in their belly and when they had that red card they went to another level.

“We needed to raise it at that point, but I’m immensely proud of the girls and how far we’ve come in just a short space of time.”

Wales: Wilkins; Neumann, Jones, Lake, C Lewis; Snowsill, Bevan; C Thomas, Phillips, Hale, John, G Evans, Butchers, B Lewis, Lillicrap (capt).

Replacements: K Evans, Hope, Kelly, Rose, Crabb, Callender, F Lewis, F Williams, Webb.