The Boys High School All Americans pulled off an impressive win Thursday night, defeating Ontario U19s 27-14.

Since this was essentially a HSAA East team (a different group will tour BC later this month), it was pretty close to apples v apples - Ontario isn’t exactly all of Eastern Canada (the Maritimes might have something  to say about that) but in terms of rugby talent, it’s close.

The win was that much more impressive given the fact that the USA players had five practices and a walk-through to prepare, while Ontario is in the middle of a summer camp that leads directly to a national provincial championship. 

That, said center and try-scorer Jayden Demmy, was due in part to how quickly the group unified under the USA flag.

“It's an awesome experience,” said the West Shore United back. “The coaches are phenomenal. My teammates are great people as well. We click really well together.”

Left to right, Brendan Keane, Scott Bracken, and Salty Thompson discuss issues of the day.

The players have been staying on the campus of Appleby College, a private high school founded in 1911. It is a nice mixture of old buildings and new, and has some excellent rugby fields. That close proximity to everything has helped a squad where just one third has been on the HS All American team before. They came together quickly, took ice baths in Lake Ontario (no joke, they actually did that), and got on the same page. Head Coach Salty Thompson, working with Brendan Keane and Scott Bracken, got everyone they could into the game on Thursday, and that’s important, as well. Everyone’s involved now. And they set about preparing the players for an opposition that was slightly older, and a little bigger.

Today, Friday July 1, includes a short recovery session and then the players have some time off to enjoy Canada Day (there’s a festival at Bronte Harbour that includes a Guess Who tribute band and a fireworks display), but there’s also the business of being ready for Saturday afternoon’s game.

The rematch is Saturday at 3pm Eastern. Ontario will have made adjustments; we’ll see if the HSAA team has, as well.

Photos by Allison Bradfield.