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An monstrous 55 metre penalty goal with time up on the clock by All-American flyhalf Ben Cima gave his side a famous victory over rivals Canada to earn a trip to the World Rugby u20 Trophy in Zimbabwe. The kick stunned the Canadian team, confident going into the match, who are now out of the April tourney with World Rugby opting once again to include only one North American side.
Cima scored the first points with an ominous early penalty from halfway, but Canada struck back with a try to Trent Cooper after a nice buildup. Cima broke a 14 minute deadlock with his second, and then his third penalty a couple minutes later.
Robbie Povey responded with his first successful kick of the game to reduce the lead to one point, and then an offload from George Barton put flanker Peter Milazzo in for a try on the stroke of halftime. Povey’s conversion made the score 15-9 to Canada at the break.
The second half started badly for Canada as captain Andrew Coe collided with Phil Berna in a nasty head-on-head that sent Coe for repairs and Berna to the sidelines permanently. As the All-Americans attack found success, Cima found a half-gap and his offload put Lorenzo Thomas through to score a massive try and the extras gave them a one point lead.
A clumsy challenge in the air on Hanco Germishuys landed Cooper in hot water, and after a discussion with his assistant, the referee brandished a yellow card. No points came immediately as a result, but the Canadians were losing momentum and losing time.
They held out, however, and after Povey missed a first opportunity he made good on his second, handing Canada a narrow two-point lead with just a few short minutes to play. A rushed exit from the kickoff set up Cima for a chance to win it, but on a tricky angle he pulled the kick left of the uprights. Amazingly his day wasn’t done yet however, as a penalty conceded from the ensuing drop out gave Cima the unlikely shot from inside his own end.
As the ball just crept over the bar his teammates erupted and Canadian hearts sank.
SCORING
USA 19
Tries – L. Thomas (50′)
Cons – B. Cima (51′)
Pens – B. Cima 4 (3′, 24′, 26′, 80′)
CANADA 18
Tries – T. Cooper (10′), P. Milazzo (40′)
Cons – R. Povey (40′)
Pens – R. Povey 2 (32′, 75′)
Yellow cards – T. Cooper (53′)
TEAMS
AIG MEN’S JUNIOR ALL-AMERICANS
1 Connor Cudeback, 2 Steven Branham, 3 Nick Kwasniewski (18 Mason Pedersen HT), 4 Sean Coleman, 5 Malon Al-Jiboori, 6 Veuki Taumoefolau (19 George Fotu HT), 7 Brennan Falcon, 8 Hanco Germishuys (capt.), 9 Louis Mulholland, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Deion Mikesell, 12 Brian Hannon, 13 Lorenzo Thomas, 14 Tyler Sousley, 15 Mitchell Wilson
Not used: 16 Zach Haley, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 20 Josh Warnock, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Roddy Giles, 23 Devin Lim
CANADA u20
1 Cali Martinez, 2 AJ Quattrin (17 Brendan Blaikie 52′), 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Reegan O’Gorman, 5 Conor Keys (20 Peter Milazzo 35′), 6 Adrian Wadden, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Luke Bradley, 9 Cole Keffer, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Theo Sauder, 12 George Barton, 13 Phil Berna (22 Mitch Richardson 41′), 14 Trent Cooper (23 Aaron Evison 63′), 15 Andrew Coe (capt.) (23 Aaron Evison 41′-45′) (21 Keaton Porter 62′-64′)
Not used: 16 Connor Sampson, 18 Curtis Delmonico, 19 Matt Beukeboom
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Scott Green (USAR) & Joey Swatzell (USAR)
