Japans execution and pace of play took control of their 13th-place se,ifinal in the Junior World Championships, leaving the USA U20s on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
The teams traded tries early and past the midway point of the first half it was only 14-6. However, a yellow card to Tyler Trower left the Junior Eagles down a man and Japan punished them severely with two tries in quick succession.
Once back to full strength the USA U20s scored another and it was 28-14 at the break.
Will Darbishire's try right after halftime made it 28-21 and at that point everything looked poised for a tense finish.
But it wasn't to be.
The key play here may well have been after the USA conceded Japan's 5th try. Right off the restart the ball bounced to Siale Ofa, who raced through tacklers to the corner. That try was converted, but then called back because, supposedly, the ball that bounced off Pierce Helly's shoulder went forward. That was a verrrrry close call. And harsh.
The wheels seemed to fall off after that.
Japan scored seven tries to wrap up the match 71-21.
The USA had discipline problems, too, with Spencer Huntley getting a yellow for coming into a maul from the side, and it being the latest in a long line of penalties. Moments later Alfie Booth dropped a shoulder into a player off the ball and deservedly got a red card.
The USA team got frustrated, and while they showed that they can score when they have the ball, they hardly saw it. Japan held two-thirds of the possession, made defenders miss, and the USA committed 21 penalties and missed 71 tackles.
USA U20s 21
Tries: Finicle, Mitchell, Darbishire
Convs: Cadden 3
Japan U20s 71
Tries: Iwakura 3, Fukada, Uchida 2, Suda, Miura 3, Motoyama
Convs: Niwa 8
De La Salle HS
Saint Mary's (Rudy Scholz Finalist)
USA U20s (Captain)
USA Men's National 15s Team (Debut vs Georgia 2023 at age 20)
As a 17-year-old Spencer Huntley required a waiver to play for the USA U20s, an indication of how he was rated in the USA age-grade pathway. He got that waiver and impressed for the USA U20s, and then moved up to the USA U23s. He led the San Diego Mustangs to a national HS Club championship in 2024.
He also played in the SoCal single-school league for Cathedral Catholic.
Hope Rogers began playing rugby at age 16 in high school and continued to compete during her time at Penn State University. There, she won four National Championships, was crowned MVP on two occasions, was named to the USA Under-20s and earned Collegiate All-American honors for four years. Rogers was also an impressive discus player during her senior year in high school where she broke a school record and won Gold at Districts for the sport.
Mike played for Life College, Philly-Whitemarsh and played for the USA National 7s and 15s teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was also part of the Atlantis touring side, playing 7s for the team in several around the world.
