Rugby Canada  – Canada’s Men’s Under-20 Team scores seven tries en route to 46-12 victory Tuesday night at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton against USA U-20; Final match of aggregate qualifying series set for Saturday at 2pm M.T. to secure North America spot at JWRT in Uruguay

EDMONTON, A.B. (June 13, 2017) — Canada’s men’s Under-20 team ran in seven tries as they beat the USA Under-20 46-12 in the first game of their Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifier on Tuesday evening at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton.

Canada got tries from Matt Beukeboom, Anton Ngongo, Josh Thiel, Aidan McMullan, Fraser Hurst, Jamie McNaughton and Cole Davis while Will Kelly kicked 11 points.

“To get that first win in a two game series is huge,” Hurst said. “We’re going to come out in the second game just like the first game, play hard and get as many points as we can.”

After falling behind 5-0 inside the opening two minutes thanks to a Daemon Torres try, Canada came roaring back as Beukeboom powered over after a dominating scrum. Canada had its first lead in the ninth minute as Ngongo found space out wide after a USA defender had deflected a pass and he cruised in for a 12-5 lead.

Brothers Jake and Josh Thiel connected for Canada’s third try with Jake breaking the line before finding Josh inside for a special brotherly connection for a 19-5 lead. USA captain Malon Al-Jiboori got his side back in the game just before the break as he broke the Canadian defensive line to run in under the sticks to cut the Canadian lead to 19-12 at half time.

However, it was all Canada in the second half as McMullan got things started with a massive line break to score Canada’s fourth try before Kelly’s 51^st minute pushed the lead to 29-12.

A moment of individual brilliance from Hurst had Canada’s fifth try as he danced through the USA defence before McNaughton’s intercept try and Davis’ change of pace try sealed a memorable victory for Canada.

“Getting a big lead like that going into the second test is a massive opportunity for us,” Kelly said. “We can’t switch off. Anything can still happen. They’re a good team and they showed glimpses of really good play out there. We have to re-evaluate the whole game and be switched on for Saturday.”

Saturday’s game kicks off at 2pm ET/11am PT and can be seen LIVE on www.facebook.com/rugbycanada. A ticket must be purchased for Canada’s test match against Romania to gain entry. Tickets are available here.

Canada’s Men’s U20 Roster vs. USA (Name, club, hometown):

1. Liam Murray (Langley) Langley, BC

2. Dewald Kotze (UBCOB Ravens) Edmonton, AB

3. Cole Keith (James Bay AA) Sussex, NB

4. Liam Doll (UBC Thunderbirds) North Vancouver, BC

5. Matt Beukeboom (Section Paloise) Lindsay, ON

6. Lachlan Currie (Bond University) Gold Coast, Australia

7. James O’Neill (UVic Vikes) Cochrane, AB

8. Jake Thiel (Abbotsford RFC) Abbotsford, BC

9. Fraser Hurst (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC

10. Will Kelly (Brantford Harlequins) Ancaster, ON

11. Elias Ergas (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC

12. Josh Thiel (Bishop Burton College) Abbotsford, BC

13. George Barton, captain (Clermont) Duncan, BC

14. Anton Ngongo (Castaway Wanderers) Victoria, BC

15. Aidan McMullan (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC), Montreal, QC

16. Steven Ng (Capilano RFC) Ottawa, ON

17. Connor Sampson (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC

18. Nicholas Frost (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC

19. Jamie McNaughton Carleton Place, ON

20. Jack McRogers (Aurora Barbarians) Newmarket, ON

21. William McDougall-Percillier (Cowichan Piggies) Mill Bay, Victoria

22. Brennig Prevost (UVic Vikes) Victoria, BC

23. Cole Davis (Canberra Royals) Calgary, AB

U20 Canada Coaching Staff:

Jeff Williams – Head Coach

Dave Butcher – Assistant Coach

Sean McDonaugh – Assistant Coach

Kiyomi Thompson – Athletic Therapist

Jeff Watson – S&C Coach

Derek Pue – Analyst

Alana Gattinger – Team Manager

Canada’s Men’s U20 Schedule:

Canada 46-12 USA — June 13 — Ellerslie Rugby Park

Canada vs. USA — June 17 — Ellerslie Rugby Park, 2pm ET/11am PT

Scoring Summary:

Canada:

Tries: Matt Beukeboom, Anton Ngongo, Josh Thiel, Aidan McMullan, Fraser Hurst, Jamie McNaughton, Cole Davis

Conversions: Will Kelly (4)

Penalties: Will Kelly

USA:

Tries: Daemon Torres, Malon Al-Jiboori

Conversions: Ruben De Haas 

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Bryan Kelly  I  Manager, Communications and Media Relations  I  Rugby Canada  I  3024 Glen Lake Road  I Langford, British Columbia, Canada V9B 4B4  I  Tel. 250.418.8998 ext. 314  I  Fax 250.386.3810  I Cell. 250.216.5272 | bkelly@rugbycanada.ca I www.rugbycanada.ca