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They didn’t quite get the result they wanted on Saturday, but Canada have officially qualified as North America’s representatives at the World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament in August. The Junior All-Americans got some revenge as they took a 27-25 result away from Edmonton’s Ellerslie Park in the second of the two-leg qualifying series, but Canada will move forward with a 32-point lead on aggregate after Tuesday’s 46-12 victory.
Goal-kicking scrumhalf Ruben de Haas gave the USA an early lead with a penalty goal but Canada responded with a try through burly prop Cole Keith, later named Man of the Series. Next it was Aidan McMullan with another superb individual score followed in quick succession by a Will Kelly penalty. The USA responded with a try through Christian Dyer but the midfielder’s score was erased by Kelly, this time dotting down himself.
Peter Howard found space on the outside to race in for a quick try after the break but Canada gave them on time to celebrate as James O’Neill fell over the line from close range. That would be the end of the home side’s account, however, and with replacements streaming into the game it was second row Daemon Torres who saved the day for the All-Americans with two tries in a span of 20 minutes, the last exploiting a gap on the Canadian fringe defense just a couple meters short of the line. Sam Walsh kicked the conversion to give the USA the win.
Canada will now join Chile, Fiji, Portugal, Namibia, Hong Kong, Japan, and hosts Uruguay in vying for the u20 Trophy, World Rugby’s second tier age grade competition. The competition runs from August 29 to September 10 with the winner qualifying for the 2018 World Rugby u20 Championship.
SCORING
CANADA 25
Tries – C. Keith (19’), A. McMullan (23’), W. Kelly (39’), J. O’Neill (48’)
Cons – W. Kelly 1/4 (20’)
Pens – W. Kelly 1/2 (27’)
Yellow cards – G. Barton (34’)
USA 27
Tries – C. Dyer (35’), P. Howard (42’), D. Torres 2 (59’, 78’)
Cons – R. de Haas 1/3 (43’), S. Walsh 1/1 (79’)
Pens – R. de Haas 1/1 (11’)
Yellow cards – H. Wheeler (34’), R. de Haas (70’)
TEAMS
CANADA u20
1 Liam Murray (17 Connor Sampson HT), 2 Dewald Kotze (16 Steven Ng 64’), 3 Cole Keith (18 Nick Frost 60’), 4 Liam Doll (19 Jamie McNaughton 60’), 5 Matt Beukeboom, 6 Lachlan Currie, 7 James O’Neill, 8 Jake Thiel (20 Jack McRogers 69’), 9 Fraser Hurst (21 Will McDougall-Percillier 51’), 10 Will Kelly, 11 Elias Ergas, 12 Josh Thiel (23 Cole Davis 53’), 13 George Barton (capt.), 14 Anton Ngongo, 15 Aidan McMullan (22 Brennig Prevost 53’)
USA JUNIOR ALL-AMERICANS
1 Payton Telea (18 Jake Jorstad 60’), 2 Jack Iscaro (16 Martin Keuchkerian 58’), 3 Chance Wenglewski (19 Bailey Wilson 67’), 4 Tommy Clark (17 Brian Nault HT), 5 Daemon Torres, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori (capt.) (20 Justin Johnson 60’), 7 Jack Miller, 8 Nafi Ma’afu, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Sam Walsh, 11 Peter Howard, 12 Christian Dyer, 13 Harley Wheeler (23 Lorenzo Thomas 53’), 14 Deion Mikesell (21 Quinn Perry 76’), 15 Cristian Rodríguez (22 Aaron Matthews 53’)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike O’Brien (USAR)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (RC) & AN Other (RC)
