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A four-try blitz in the second half gave the USA a 33-18 win over Canada in the first match of their u20 Trophy Qualifier series at Shawnigan Lake School on Saturday. The Canadian pack took charge at the set piece in rainy conditions during the first half, but the USA’s replacements tilted the scales in their direction as they overturned an 11-point deficit despite receiving two yellow cards.
USA captain Cade Crist got the Americans on the board first with a try in the opening minutes, converted by Rand Santos. The Canadian scrum had the edge on their opposites, however, and the USA forwards struggled to find much success at the lineout.
Matthew Bennett finally opened Canada’s account with a three-pointer just shy of the half-hour mark, and followed it up with a second after another scrum penalty. The Canucks pushed their way back into US territory and on the stroke of halftime Paddy Kirwan sniped from a ruck to make it 11-7 to the home side.
More set pieces struggles saw the Canadians again on the front foot to open the second half. A turnover saw Morgan DiNardo breaking down the left side only to be taken out with a no-arms challenge by Dom Besag, who received a yellow card. Moments later Garin Schroeder was in for Canada’s second try after the flanker broke from a driving maul. Bennett added the extras and the Maple Leafs led 18-7.
Reinforcements were summoned from the USA’s bench and they made an immediate impact. Houston SaberCats hooker Seth Smith was one who entered the fray and provided a boost of energy to the American pack. They were soon knocking on the door and it was appropriately Smith who got the try from the back of a driving maul to close the gap and swing momentum to the visitors.
It wasn’t long before the USA were back inside the Canadian 22. Ollie Cline, now on at flyhalf, spotted Tito Edjua in space on the left wing and connected with a cross-kick for the USA’s second try. The conversion was pulled just left of the posts but the Americans now had a 19-18 lead.
Replacement prop Asbjorn Ross was binned for repeat scrum collapses but his teammates were undeterred. Besag redeemed himself with a nifty pass to free Corbin Smith, and then Smith raced clear for a double just a minute later on a furious counter-attack. Cline nailed both conversions from wide angles to put a bow on the result.
The USA now takes a 15-point lead into the second leg of the series. Canada will need a strong performance at Starlight Stadium on Thursday to reach the Trophy. Kickoff is at 7pm local time.
| SCORING |
CANADA 18
Tries (2) – P. Kirwan (40′), G. Schroeder (48′)
Cons (1) – M. Bennett 1/2 (49′)
Pens (2) – M. Bennett 2/2 (29′, 34′)
USA 33
Tries (5) – C. Crist (5′), S. Smith (59′), T. Edjua (66′), C. Smith 2 (76′, 78′)
Cons (4) – R. Santos 1/1 (6′), O. Cline 3/4 (60′, 77′, 79′)
YC (2) – D. Besag (47′), A. Ross (73′)
| TEAMS |
CANADA u20
1 Justin Tasse, 2 Jeffrey Young, 3 Brighton Feldman, 4 Ryan Cozens, 5 Daragh Doyle, 6 Grant Meadows, 7 Garin Schroeder, 8 Olly Wiseman (capt.), 9 Paddy Kirwan, 10 Matthew Bennett, 11 Morgan DiNardo, 12 Jimmy Leach, 13 Lockhart MacGregor, 14 Spencer Cotie, 15 Ben Greenstein
Replacements: 16 Noah Kynaston, 17 Dylan Shaw, 18 Charles Trollip, 19 Liam Kinghorn, 20 Jaxson Jones, 21 Marco Mitchell, 22 Thomas Wells Richards, 23 Caleb Seumanutafa
USA u20
1 John-Henry Rouse, 2 Caden Crist (capt.), 3 Asa Rosenmeier, 4 Brice Muller, 5 George Engels, 6 Logan Ballinger, 7 Daniel Lowther, 8 Dylan Fortune, 9 Spencer Huntley, 10 Rand Santos, 11 Tito Edjua, 12 Max Threlkeld, 13 Dom Besag, 14 Emmett Cook, 15 Corbin Smith
Replacements: 16 Asbjorn Ross, 17 Seth Smith, 18 Tevita Kutu, 19 Miles Malone, 20 Holden Hahn, 21 Judd Berman, 22 Ollie Cline, 23 Keelan Farrell
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Fernando García (Mexico)
| MATCH VIDEO |
