Canada fall to Ulster in exciting contest

An action-packed match at Kingspan Stadium saw Canada ‘A’ drop their second match of their UK tour to the Ulster Ravens by a score of 48-38 on Friday. While the loss will be disappointing, it wasn’t all bad for Canada as they came back from 29-5 deficit at halftime to take a 38-36 lead, just losing out again in the final minutes to an attack-minded Ulster side.

Johnny McPhillips started the scoring for Ulster in the 5th minute with a penalty goal, but it was Canada who notched the first try with second row Conor Keys finishing off a strong run from Admir Cejvanovic. Sadly for the visitors that would be their only say of the opening stanza, with the home team blasting over 26 unanswered points before the break.

A gap in the cover defense allowed Aaron Cairns to slide onto a grubber and soon after the forwards went to work, pushing a maul over the line from five metres out for Zack McCall to touch down. Canadian concentration slipped in the last moments of the half as replacement Conor Field took the outside and then McPhillips himself darted through to score on the haltime whistle.

Several replacements seemed to spur the Canucks as they came out a completely different side in the second half. Kainoa Lloyd was first to a kick through and raced away within seconds of the kickoff for his first international try, and Gordon McRorie earning a try of his own after another line break from the influential Cejvanovic.

Ulster replied via prop Craig Trenier, who flopped over the line after scrumhalf Angus Lloyd nearly pipped over himself. Canada weren’t finished, however, and first Peter Houlihan worked one over from close range followed by McRorie’s second touchdown, this time created by Dan Moor. After a period of respite Eric Howard made the most of half-gap to wrestle his way to the line, with Robbie Povey’s extras handing Canada an unlikely two-point lead.

The celebrations were cut short when Ravens flanker Nick Timoney broke free and stepped inside the cover just a minute later. Adam McBurney had the last say, coming up on the end of another driving maul to capture Ulster’s seventh and final try just before full time.

Canada will face Glasgow Warriors on Tuesday in their final match of the tour.

ULSTER 48
Tries – A. Cairns (24), Z. McCall (29), C. Field (38), J. McPhillips (40), C. Trenier (51), N. Timoney (69), A. McBurney (79)
Cons – J. McPhillips 3 (30, 39, 40), C. Field 2 (52, 70)
Pens – J. McPhillips (5)

CANADA 38
Tries – C. Keys (15), K. Lloyd (41), G. McRorie 2 (43, 56), P. Houlihan (53), E. Howard (68)
Cons – G. McRorie 3 (44, 54, 57), R. Povey (69)

ULSTER RAVENS
1 Kyle McCall (capt.) 2 Zack McCall 3 Craig Trenier 4 Kieran Treadwell 5 Alex Thompson 6 Nick Timoney 7 Conall Boomer 8 Stephen Mulholland 9 Angus Lloyd 10 Johnny McPhillips 11 Aaron Cairns 12 Rory Butler 13 Mark Best 14 Conor Kelly 15 David Busby

Reserves: Adam McBurney, Tommy O’Hagan, Michael Lagan, Peter Cooper, Alistair Burke, Aaron Hall, Marcus Rea, Jonny Stewart, Andy Magrath, Conor Field

CANADA ‘A’
1 Djustice Sears-Duru 2 Alex Mascott 3 Cody McClary 4 Conor Keys 5 Lucas Albornoz 6 Kyle Baillie 7 Matt Heaton 8 Admir Cejvanovic 9 Dan Joyce 10 Gordon McRorie (capt.) 11 Dan Moor 12 Guiseppe du Toit 13 Sam Hayward 14 Kainoa Lloyd 15 Jordan Wilson-Ross

Reserves: Eric Howard, Peter Houlihan, Anthony Luca, Ryan Kotlewski, Adrian Wadden, Nanyak Dala, Travis Larsen, Patrick Parfrey, Doug Fraser, Mozac Samson, Aidan McMullan