Attempting to stop a two game win streak by the visiting USA, Canada came away with a defensive minded 19-10 victory in front of 7,100 fans at Richardson stadium in Kingston, Ontario.
The win also gave Canada a berth in the 2001 Pacific Rim tournament in Japan, and also possesion of the Can-Am cup which goes to the winner of the annual encounter between the two countries.
Canada began the attack from the start, enjoying long passages of play and quickly getting to the US end. An offside by the Americans gave Scott Stewart his first shot at goal from 23 metres, which he made for the 3-0 lead at the four minute mark.
The Canadians maintained the pressure and showed remarkable control with nine phases from five metres out before referee Santiago Borsoni showed advantage to Canada. Prop Jon Thiel saw the ball squirt out from a ruck picked it up and dropped over the line for the try. Stewart converted to make the score 10-0 and it looked like it would be a long day for the Eagles.
In the 33rd minute a US kick to touch looked to be an opportunity for a quick throw in but scrumhalf Kevin Dalzell raced up reading the situation and intercepted the ball, going 60 metres for the try. Grant Wells, who had missed two earlier penalty attempts made good on the conversion to narrow the Canuck lead to 10-7.
Canadian coach David Clark was pleased with the composure his young team showed. Jeff Williams, a fullback, scrum-half Ed Fairhurst and centre John Cannon were on for their first tests, and performed well.
"Jeff Williams, in front of his home crowd had a marvelous performance," remarked Clark. "He was brave under the high ball, came into the line at speed, he put the ball behind them he did everything that was expected of him.
"John Cannon a tower of strength in the centres. He made his tackles well and hard, and cut them adrift.
"And Ed Fairhurst should thank the forward pack for the rest of his life a very comfortable ride in his first cap."
Clark's counterpart Duncan Hall was disappointed with the loss and lack of offensive punch. The Eagles sole try came from the interception try by Dalzell.
"We just didn't have good enough ball to use really," Hall said candidly. "I think the Canadians defended very well, they shut our space down. We didn't quite get the thrust in the backline today."
Hall felt that his young front row just didn't provide the platform needed to get clean ball to Dalzell.
"Unfortunately we don't have a lot of depth, but all the players here are trying their hardest. That's all we can ask at the moment," said the Australian.
Just before the half Stewart knocked his second penalty of the first half for the 13-7 advantage.
In the second frame the US began to control the Canadian attack on the ground, preferring to let Scott Stewart and Jeff Williams clear the ball down the pitch with huge territorial kicks. Stewart got another shot at goal but pushed it just wide, before finding the mark in the 65th minute and the 16-7 lead.
Wells responded with a penalty, and then missed another shot at goal a few minutes later and the score was 16-10.
At the 69th minute John Cannon, found a gap and drove down to the US five metre line. In the ensuing ruck US wing Malkai Delai was shown the yellow card by Borsoni for killing the ball near the goal line.
Team captain Gregor Dixon opted for the sure three points and Stewart did not disappoint, for the final scoreline of 19-10.
Stewart who was good on four of six attempts for 14 points, was disappointed at a couple of the kicks he missed saying that his rhythm was off because of a delay in getting a kicking tee on to the pitch.
"I did miss a couple of kicks I would have liked to have made but we didn't get the tee on in time and the referee was counting down the 30 seconds to kick the ball, instead of the minute I usually get to kick the ball.
"So it was a little extra pressure, and I couldn't do the normal routine and as a result it ruined my concentration. But overall kind of happy considering the way I was kicking yesterday (in training)."
The Canadians began to use their 7's skills throwing the ball around, finding interesting gaps, and exposing the US who were still a man short. John Cannon blazed up the far sideline, before offloading to Sean Fauth who finally got put into touch, but the Eagles were beginning to feel the pressure of the sustained Canadian attack. A moment later the whistle blew and the American win streak over Canada ended at two.
Earlier in the day Argentina defeated Uruguay 32-27, and with a bonus point for scoring four tries is now in first place with a 1-0 record in the Pan-Am table, at 5 points. Canada is in second with four points.
The teams:
Canada: 1 Rod Snow, 2 Pat Dunkley, 3 John Thiel, 4 Ed Knaggs, 5 John Tait, 6 Ryan Banks, 7 Mike Schmid, 8 Gregor Dixon (c), 9 Ed Fairhurst, 10 Scott Stewart, 11 Sean Fauth, 12 John Cannon, 13 Mark Irvine, 14 Nik Witkowski, 15 Jeff Williams
Reserves: Dale Burleigh, Marco Di Girolomo, Ron Johnstone, Duane Major, Bobby Ross, Jeff Tomlinson, Kevin Wirachowski
United States: 1 Mike MacDonald, 2 Robbie Flynn, 3 Paul Still, 4 Luke Gross, 5 Tom Kelleher, 6 Dave Hodges (c), 7 Kort Schubert, 8 Dan Lyle, 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Grant Wells, 11 Malakai Delai, 12 Phillip Eloff, 13 Juan Grobler, 14 Jovesa Naivalu, 15 John Buchholz
Reserves: Olo Fifita, Kirk Khasigian, Kimball Kjar, Tim Kluempers, Alex Magleby, Mose Timoteo, Link Wilfley
Referee: Santiago Borsani
Touch Judge: Steve Scott (Canada), Eduardo Blengio (Uruguay)
Fourth official: Chris Slack
Attendance: 7,135
Points Scorers:
Canada
Tries: Thiel J. 1
Conv: Stewart D.S. 1
Pen K.: Stewart D.S. 3
United States
Tries: Dalzell K. 1
Conv: Wells G. 1
Pen K.: Wells G. 1
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