US Eagles downed by Canucks
Canada win Churchill Cup bowl in Edmonton
Canada beat the USA 33-18 in the final of the Churchill Cup bowl played before some 8,000 spectators at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Saturday.
This result sees Canada finish fifth in the six-team tournament.
Canada dominated all phases of play as its pack got un top, mauling strongly.
Canada were on top from the start but the Eagles' defence restricted them to 13-6 at half-time. The second half belonged to the fitter Canadians who could have won by a bigger margin. As it was they ran in three tries in the half.
Fly-half James Pritchard got the scoring going with a penalty after just two minutes. Both sides ran, the USA spearheaded by the Parma centres of Albert Tu’ipoluto and Paul Emerick, the Candians with Mike Pyke and big Justin Mensah-Coker prominent. The United States had a great opportunity when left wing Mike Palefau ran down the left touch but his pass to fuilback Jeff Hullinger went into touch. The USA;s reward was a penalty by Jason Kelly.
Pyke had a good run and then Pritchard gave his side back the lead with a second penalty, after which Canada got its first try.
It started with a driving maul from a line-out. The forwards then released the ball to the backs and an orthodox passing movement put Justin Mensah-Coker in for his first try for Canada, his first on two in this match. Pritchard converted from touch and Canada led 13-3 after 25 minutes' play.
The only other score in the half was a second penalty goal by Kelly though Canada was close when it built up the phases and then when the Canadians burst out of their own 22 from a turn-over and Pyke was tackled by Hullinger just short of the line..
Just before half-time referee Andrew Small of England sent Pritchard to the sin bin for illegal activities at a tackle/ruck.
Soon after the restart Canada got a second try when Morgan Williams took a tap penalty and the ball went through the hands to Mensah-Coker for his second try. 18-6. Pritchard was in the sin bin and so Monro took the conversion but without success.
Pritchard back, it was prop Rod Snow's turn to go to the sin bin for dissent. Straight afterwards flank Todd Cleaver scored for the USA as they drove a maul over the Canadian line. 18-11.
A maul by Canada's seven forwards got the ball to the Eagles' line and Williams scored. This time Pritchard was there to convert. 25-11. He followed this with a penalty.
After Pyke had made the running Pritchard scored Canada's final try before the Eagles got a last-minute try through substitute Alipate Tuilevuka, who converted the try, which was followed by the final whistle.
"Who wouldn't be happy with that today? The guys put it together today," said Canada coach Ric Suggitt after the match.
"We still had a few lapses but there were a lot of positives. We're starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together and I think we're happy with that.
"Some would say we have a psychological edge from this win looking toward the World Cup Qualifying match in St. John's, but what we have to do now is get ready to play Barbados next week, and a stronger US team on August 12."
The Eagles' coach was less pleased.
"The fitness levels right across the board are not sufficient to play the game at any sustained pace," said Peter Thorburn.
"Until that's fixed we'll be under pressure – it's not as simple as that but that is the basis."
The scorers:
For Canada:
Tries: Mensah-Coker 2, Williams, Pritchard
Cons: Pritchard 2
Pens: Pritchard 3
For the USA:
Tries: Cleaver, Tuilevuka
Con: Tuilevuka
Pens: Kelly 2
The teams:
Canada: 15 Mike Pyke, 14 Justin Mensah-Coker, 13 Chris Pack, 12 David Spicer, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Morgan Williams, 8 Sean-Micheal Stephen, 7 Stan MCKeen, 6 Adam Kleeberger, 5 Mike Burak, 4 Luke Tait, 3 Rod Snow, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Dan Pletch.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Abrams, 17 Mike Barbieri, 18 Mike Pletch, 19 Oliver Atkinson, 20 Aaron Carpenter, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Derek Daypuck.
USA: 15 Jeff Hullinger, 14 Mike Palefau, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Albert Tuipulotu, 11 Jeremy Nash, 10 Jason Kelly, 9 Tyson Meek, 8 Kort Schubert (captain), 7 Todd Clever, 6 Scott Lawrence, 5 Mike Mangan, 4 Carl Hansen, 3 John Tarpoff, 2 Patrick Bell, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Owen Lentz, 17 Chris Osentowski, 18 Brian Schoener, 19 Mark Aylor, 20 Mose Timoteo, 21 Alipate Tuilevuka, 22 Brian Barnard.
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges: Gary Wise (New Zealand), Olan Trevor (Ireland)
