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The USA ended their Junior World Trophy campaign on a high. Following a disappointing run of results against Uruguay, Zimbabwe and Scotland, the u20’s Eagles sprang to life with a big win over Hong Kong. The USA’s 47-22 win sees the North Americans handing Hong Kong the wooden spoon.
Hayden McKay was the star for the USA. The Eagles flanker scored a hat-trick and ended the tournament with seven tries. Winger Aaron Faison was also excellent; he scored two tries in what was his first start of the tournament. In addition, Hugh O’Kennedy had a fine match at fly half. O’Kennedy thrived as the stand-in captain for Dom Besag, who has been called up to the USA Eagles’ roster.
Solomon Williams made a strong early impression for the Eagles. The USA scrum-half made a break and provided an assist to center Rand Santos who scored. The fine start continued with Faison scoring his first try five minutes after Santos had touched down.
Hong Kong fought back to score through hooker Dewi Simons. The growing trend of lineout to maul tries in test match rugby is also occurring at u20 level. Simons powered over to get Hong Kong on the score sheet.
McKay responded for the USA with his opening try in the 35th minute of play. He did so after Dylan Fortune had been stopped over the line by the Asian side.
The second half saw the USA in form control. The injection of John Wilson from the replacements added power and a try from a maul. Another came two minutes later with Faison scoring his second with Corbin Smith providing the assist. Two further tries followed, both scored by McKay.
The USA had won the match well and switched off. Fritz Mahn, Charles Warren and Max Threlkeld responded for Hong Kong to add respectability to the final score.
USA u20
1 Jaydon Brooks, 2 Caden Crist, 3 Declan Dolan, 4 Dylan Fortune, 5 Jackson Cain, 6 Will Sherman, 7 Hayden McKay, 8 Logan Ballinger, 9 Solomon Williams, 10 Hugh O’Kennedy (capt.), 11 Aaron Faison, 12 Rand Santos, 13 Aisle Tukuafu, 14 Iosefa Toia’ivao, 15 Corbin Smith
Replacements: 16 John Vinter, 17 John Wilson, 18 Connor Devos, 19 Leon Best, 20 Henry Duke, 21 Cormac Saint, 22 Oliver Cline, 23 Sosaia Pongi
