Junior All-Americans crushed by Canada

Canada made up for their 2016 loss to the Junior All-Americans and then some as they trounced the visitors by 46-12 at Ellerslie Park on Tuesday evening. The rampant red jerseys ran in seven tries in all including 27 unanswered points in the second half to all but book their spots on the plane to Montevideo and the World Rugby u20 Trophy in August.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic. The opening score came after Canada botched the kickoff and handed possession immediately to the USA. A few quick phases later and Daemon Torres powered over to put points on while spectators were still finding their seats. Ruben de Haas couldn’t convert from a tough angle but the All-Americans had the lead.

The roles were reversed immediately, however, as the USA bumbled the restart and gave Canada a scrum. Jake Thiel attacked from the base and then Matt Beukeboom reached out through a tackle to touch down beside the uprights. Somehow Will Kelly managed to hit the uprights on the routine conversion but the scores were level and Canada was back in the game.

A bit of luck moments later as Kelly’s offload was deflected off the hand of Lorenzo Thomas straight into the bread basket of Anton Ngongo, and the flying winger raced down the left sideline for a try. Kelly was on target this time, and then again when Josh Thiel took a short ball from brother Jake on a line break for a deflating try from a lineout.

Canada looked to the pulling away but the All-American captain had better ideas. Like a man possessed Malon Al-Jiboori almost single-handedly bashed his way up field with his third carry in the sequence taking him through the defensive line and just near enough to stretch out and touch the ball on the line for a much needed-score. de Haas took the simple conversion and the 19-12 scoreline carried through to the half, but not before a heavy collision cost Canada both captain George Barton and winger Elias Ergas.

The lightning-quick Cristian Rodríguez was carving up the Canadian defense at will but his teammates were nowhere to be found and James O’Neill was proving a pest at the breakdown, winning multiple turnovers. With Barton out of the game Canada turned to their own speedster, the dazzling Aidan McMullan, to break the line and that he did with a cheeky feint and a clean run-in from near halfway. Kelly added the conversion and then a penalty goal to drive the nail in deeper.

Some quick thinking from Fraser Hurst caught the post defense napping and the scrumhalf raced in just after the hour mark to seal the deal for Canada. An intercept try for replacement lock Jamie McNaughton and a 60 meter breakaway down the right sideline by bruising winger Cole Davis added to the All-American misery. Nick Frost looked to have brought up the half-century but the UBC prop was adjudged held up in-goal to bring the game to a close.

The second match will take place as a curtain-raiser for the Romania test on Saturday but it’s hard to see how the USA can overcome a 34-point deficit. Led by Cole Keith the Canadian scrum was completely dominant and after some shaky moments early in the game the defense settled in and shut down the All-American attack. Stranger things have happened but on this display Canada look home and dry with 80 minutes to spare.

 

SCORING

CANADA 46
Tries – M. Beukeboom (6’), A. Ngongo (9’), Jo. Thiel (25’), A. McMullan (46’), F. Hurst (62’), J. McNaughton (75’), C. Davis (77’)
Cons – W. Kelly 4/7 (10’, 26’, 47’, 76’)
Pens – W. Kelly 1/3 (57’)

USA 12
Tries – D. Torres (2’), M. Al-Jiboori (34’)
Cons – R. de Haas 1/2 (35’)

 

TEAMS

CANADA u20
1 Liam Murray (17 Connor Sampson HT), 2 Dewald Kotze (16 Steven Ng 69’), 3 Cole Keith (17 Connor Sampson 32’-35’) (18 Nick Frost 76’), 4 Liam Doll (19 Jamie McNaughton 68’), 5 Matt Beukeboom, 6 Lachlan Currie, 7 James O’Neill (20 Jack McRogers 69’), 8 Jake Thiel, 9 Fraser Hurst (21 Will McDougall-Percillier 72’), 10 Will Kelly, 11 Elias Ergas (23 Cole Davis 37’), 12 Josh Thiel, 13 George Barton (capt.) (22 Brennig Prevost 37’), 14 Anton Ngongo, 15 Aidan McMullan

USA JUNIOR ALL-AMERICANS
1 Chance Wenglewski (16 Martin Keuchkerian 55’), 2 Jack Iscaro (17 Jordan Crofts 76’), 3 Jake Jorstad (18 Payton Telea 55’), 4 Daemon Torres (19 Tommy Clark 60’), 5 Deven Marshall (4 Daemon Torres 80’), 6 Malon Al-Jiboori (capt.) (23 Peter Howard 62’), 7 Nafi Ma’afu, 8 Brian Nault (20 Justin Johnson 45’), 9 Ruben de Haas (21 Eamonn Matthews 72’), 10 Sam Walsh, 11 Harley Wheeler, 12 Aaron Matthews (22 Christian Dyer 53’), 13 Lorenzo Thomas, 14 Jaret Williamson, 15 Cristian Rodríguez

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Refreee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USAR) & David Crisp (RC)