Canada has stayed at the top of the Americas Zone World Cup qualifying table with a resounding 36-13 victory over the USA in Chicago in front of 2,400 fans. A pair of Marco DiGirolamo tries in the first half proved to be the difference, while fly-half Jared Barker had a perfect day, kicking four penalties and two conversions for 16 points.
The US got a late second half try from replacement fullback Mike Hercus who also had a conversion and two penalties to account for all the US points.
Fly-half Link Wilfley's first shot at goal -- from 39 metres into a stiff breeze went instantly off course -- and it appeared the Rotherham player was still struggling to find his once prominent kicking form.
"We took advantage of [US] mishaps, and it comes from pressure defense," Canadian captain Al Charron said after the match.
"Our execution today was a lot more crisp. You can't expect to win test match football if you don't convert pressure into points. We didn't do that today," USA coach Tom Billups said.
Barker got his side on the board in the eleventh minute with a 41 metre kick, punishing a US offside to make the score 3-0 to the visitors.
Olo Fifita went down at 16 minutes and after some treatment on the pitch went off, with Brian Surgener coming on as a blood substitution.
Canada was awarded a penalty on the play for obstruction, and Barker hit the long 42 metre penalty. 6-0 Canada.
Wilfley then had a 15 metre shot go awry, and a few boo-birds began to whistle.
Referee Nigel Whitehouse continued to call the USA for a variety of infractions and it was Barker again two minutes later to extend the Canuck lead to 9-0.
At 27 minutes Sean Fauth found a seam inside the US 22 and then off-loaded to late substitution Marco DiGirolamo who touched down under the posts. Barker added the extra two points and the Canadians were out to a storming 16-0 lead.
DiGirolamo then added his second of the day in the 32nd minute, diving into the left corner, and with the touchline conversion by Barker Canada was in control 23-0.
Just before the half Canada threatened again with a five metre scrum, but the Eagles dodged that bullet as the Canucks wheeled giving possession to the US. The next scrum resulted in a penalty for boring in, and the US kicked out of trouble.
The US went to Mike Hercus, who had come on just before the break as a replacement for Mose Timoteo, and he was true on a 45 metre effort, bringing the pro-USA crowd to its feet. 26-3.
Hercus added another penalty at 61 minutes to cut the Canadian lead to 26-6.
With a hard day of work behind him, Jared Barker came off, to be replaced by veteran Bob Ross, who promptly slotted a shot from 39 metres 29-6 Canada. Barker is now 12 for 12 in the kicking department over the last two qualifying games.
With the US showing little forward momentum Canada continued to press, winning a lineout at the American ten metre line, and the ball was spun wide with Sean Fauth coming in from the opposite wing, taking a quick pass and then feeding Fred Asselin who touched down in the right corner. Ross converted and the score ballooned to 36-6
The US managed to organize a drive, getting down to the Canadian five metre line with the a US ruck freeing Mike Hercus under the posts. He converted his own score to take the sting out of a poor US performance, making the final score 36-13.
The USA now takes on Chile in Salt Lake City on August 10th, while Canada plays Uruguay in Edmonton on the same day as Americas Zone qualifying continues.
Man-of-the-match: As a replacement for John Cannon, Marco DiGirolamo took all the guessing out of what his abilities are in the mid-field, scoring two tries but also showing tremendous defensive resolve and solid distribution skills. As team captain Al Charron said following the victory: "Discounting his two tries Marco still was outstanding in defense and with the ball in hand, so a real great effort by him!"
Moment of the match: The final Canadian try which came from a Canadian penalty lineout. It was a complete team try with the forwards winning the ball cleanly, quick ball down the line, and Sean Fauth showing innovation coming off the opposite wing with Winston Stanley also helping from the fullback spot to free the speedy Fred Asselin for the score.
Villain-of-the-match: While he is a talented and very fast wing, Jone Naqica continues to put his side in jeopardy with poor decision making. On a day when his team was under pressure and all hands on deck were required his yellow card offence for disrupting a quick tap ball by Morgan Williams was the last thing the Americans needed.
The teams:
Canada: 1 Ryan Banks, 2 Adam Van Staveren, 3 Phil Murphy, 4 Alan Charron (c), 5 Mike James, 6 Pat Dunkley, 7 John Thiel, 8 Rod Snow, 9 Morgan Williams, 10 Jared Barker, 11 Fred Asselin, 12 Marco Di Girolomo, 13 Nik Witkowski, 14 Sean Fauth, 15 Winston Stanley
Reserves: Jamie Cudmore, Bobby Ross, Colin Yukes, Matt King
United States: 1 Olo Fifita, 2 Kort Schubert, 3 Dave Hodges (c), 4 Philippe Farner, 5 Eric Reed, 6 Dan Dorsey, 7 Kirk Khasigian, 8 Mike MacDonald, 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Link Wilfley, 11 Johnny Naqica, 12 Jason Keyter, 13 Phillip Eloff, 14 David Fee, 15 Mose Timoteo
Reserves: Juan Grobler, Mike Hercus, Kimball Kjar, Brian Surgener, John Tarpoff
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Whitehouse n.
Points Scorers:
Canada
Tries: Asselin F. 1, Di Girolomo M. 2
Conv: Barker J. 2, Ross R.P. 1
Pen K.: Barker J. 4, Ross R.P. 1
United States
Tries: Hercus M. 1
Conv: Hercus M. 1
Pen K.: Hercus M. 2
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