Canada fall in Bucharest

79th minute victory

Romania scored a try with a minute to go to beat Canada 22-20 in Bucharest, the Oaks' first-ever victory over the Canadians.

The try tied the score;  the conversion won the match.

Flank Alexandru Manta scored the try as his mastodon pack took him to and over the line.  That made the score 20-all.  There was still the conversion to come and Dan Vlad kicked it.  That was the only time that Romania led in the match but it was enough.

The match was played in ghastly conditions as the cold took over Europe.  Snow, sleet and rain fell.

Early in the second half the visitors led 20-8 but then the bog Oaks took over.  First they got a penalty try and then Manta got his.  Those 14 points were enough for the victory.

20-year-old David Spicer, playing flyhalf for Canada for the first time controlled much of the game with his tactical kicking.  Spicer nearly created a third try for Canada in the second half when he charged down a kick which centre Ryan Smith diced at.  The referee in this match had help from goal judges and Canada had to settle for a five-metre scrum.

Canada scored first when Mike Pyke goaled a penalty.  They followed it up with a concerted attack and a try by Brodie Henderson, converted by Pyke.  After seven minutes Canada led 10-0.

Romania's teenage fullback Catalin Fercu scored a try as the Romanians moved the ball from a five-metre scrum.  Flyhalf Ionut Dimofte, just 20 years of age, kicked a penalty when Canada were penalised for a scrum infringement but they got back on track when the Romanians made a mess of a Spicer chip and Morgan Williams was on hand to score.  Pyke converted to make it 17-8 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half a Pyke penalty made it 20-8 -- and then the massive pack took over.

This was Romania' first win over Canada.  They had met twice perviously, at World Cups on both occasions -- 19-11 in Toulouse in 1991 and 34-3 in Port Elizabeth in 1995.

The scorers:

For Romania:
Tries:  Fercu, penalty try, Manta
Cons:  Vlad 2
Pen:  Dimofte

For Canada:
Tries:  Henderson, Williams
Cons:  Pyke 2
Pens:  Pyke 2

Teams:

Canada:  15 Mike Pyke, 14 Ryan Stewart, 13 Ryan Smith, 12 Ryan McWhinney, 11 Brodie Henderson, 10 David Spicer, 9 Morgan Williams (captain), 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Stan McKeen, 6 Josh Jackson, 5 Scott Hunter, 4 Mike Burak, 3 Garth Cooke, 2 Mark Lawson, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.
Replacements:  16 Aaron Abrams, 17 Casey Dunning , 18 Forrest Gainer, 19 Adam Kleeburger, 20 Matt Weingart, 21 Dean Van Camp, 22 Derek Daypuck

Romania:  15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Gabriel Brezoianu, 13 Valentin Maftei, 12 Romeo Gontineac, 11 Ioan Teodorescu, 10 Ionut Dimofte, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Alexandru Manta, 6 Florin Corodeanu, 5 Sorin Socol (captain), 4 Cristian Petre, 3 Petrisor Toderasc, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Petru Balan.
Replacements:  16 Marcel Socaciu, 17 Cezar Popescu, 18 Valentin Ursache, 19 Cosmin Ratiu, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Dan Vlad, 22 Danut Dumbrava

Referee:  Didier Mene (France)
Touch judges:  Daniel Dartigeas, Jean-Claude Bes (both France)
Goal judges:  Gines Cerezuela, Eric Chabowski (both France)
Match commissionner:  Jean-Vigier (France)