The USA U20s were thumped soundly 41-6 Friday night at Westhills Stadium in Langford, BC, giving Canada U20s a win in the Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifier series.

Going into the game, the USA trailed Canada 24-23 after the first game on Monday, and had hoped to recoup that one-point deficit in this game. Instead, everything went wrong.

Photos by Judy Teasdale.

Canada produced a tough, physical performance and were especially tough in the mauls and scrums. Meanwhile the USA played Canada tight in the first half, but struggled through a terrible second half. Ben Cima kicked a penalty to give the USA U20s the lead early on 3-0, but a Canadian attack finished off with lock Reegan O'Gorman in for a try and a 5-3 lead. Canada was back on the attack later in the first half and almost scored when scrumhalf Dan Joyce taped quickly on a penalty. He didn't get the try, but flyhalf Dan Horgan did slot a penalty goal to make it 8-3. The Junior All Americans replied with a long series inside the Canada 22 and were stymied by some desperate defense - some illegal, as Cima was given the opportunity to kick another penalty. 

So 8-6 just before halftime when Canada's scrum shoved the USA back and No. 8 Luke Bradley picked up and twisted out of the grasp of Maciu Koroi and over the line and a 13-6 halftime lead.

Still it was within the USA's grasp, but the second half was a nightmare for the USA players. Canada kept most of the possession and when they didn't have it, pinned the Americans inside their 22. The Junior All Americans just couldn't get out of jail, and even when it looked like they would, interceptions, turnovers, and other mistakes helped Canada score all of the second-half points. 

Wing Theo Sauder intercepted an American pass in his own territory and weaved through the USA defenders before offloading to hooker Patrick Finlay just before the goalline to make it 18-6 Canada. Then fullback Andrew Coe raced in under a kick and took it beautifully in the air before galloping over. Guiseppe Du Toit kicked two penalties, and then another turnover gifted a late try to Finlay for his second.

And that's how it ended. The Canada U20s go to Portugal for the JWRT, while the USA U20s have to find a tour or some other playing opportunity. Flanker Lucas Rumball was named player of the game, while the USA flanker Hanco Germishuys was a relentless presence in the middle of a rapidly disintegrating stuation. The USA players kept playing hard, but they didn't play together, and in the end it didn't seem to make a difference, anyway.

USA U20s 6

Pens: Cima 2

Canada U20s 41

Tries: Finaly 2, Bradley, O'Gorman, Coe

Convs: Du Toit 2

Pens: Du Toit 3, Horgan 

AIG Men's Junior All-Americans  
1. Darien Pickett 
2. Gabriel Romero 
3. James Gannon 
4. Oliver Drew 
5. Christian Wiessing (C) 
6. Wesley Parker 
7. Jacobus Germishuys 
8. Maciu Koroi 
9. Louis Mulholland 
10. Ben Cima 
11. Paula Hafoka 
12. Fitou Fisiiahi 
13. Ian Kinsley 
14. Connor McRae 
15. Scott Dean

Reserves 
16. Nick Kwasniewski 
17. Valdemar Lee-lo 
18. Austin Bush 
19. Braeden Hood 
20. Erik Thompson 
21. Oisin Brady 
22. Seth Halliman

Canada U20s  
1. Cali Martinez 
2. Patrick Finlay 
3. Matt Tierney 
4. Paul Cuilini 
5. Reegan O'Gorman 
6. Lucas Rumball 
7. Ollie NOtt 
8. Luke Bradley 
9. Dan Joyce 
10. Dylan Horgan 
11. Karsten Leitner 
12. Guiseppe du Toit 
13. Mitch Santilli 
14. Theo Sauder 
15. Andrew Coe

Canada U20 | Reserves 
16. John Shaw 
17. Brendan Blaikie 
18. Conor Young 
19. Mitch Rothman 
20. Tony Pomroy 
21. Philip Berna 
22. Brandon Waeyan