Canada Defeat Chile 25-24 in U20 Tournament
Canada’s support play this match was a lot better, they didn’t leave as many players stranded but their scrum was under pressure for most of the match.
Canada were down 17-6 early in the second half but they kept plugging away. The combination of James Biss at #10 and Jamin Hodgkins at #15 worked well and led to Canada’s first try when they were able to get the ball out wide quickly in two passes to Matt Klimchuk who ran over the defending winger to score.
TWU’s Ethan Jurgeneit scored Canada’s second try after a Canada maul went to ground near the goal line and a pick and go got over the line.
Sol Jacques was credited with Canada’s 3rd try with determined pick and go action from the Canadian forwards. Hodgkins hit a difficult conversion to give Canada the lead and the win.
The reserves did their job well in the match, 2 out of 3 tries being scored by the reserves and reserve scrum half Adam Doyle picking up the pace when he came on.
Canada face undefeated Uruguay to close out the tournament.
MATCH VIDEO
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Mens U20s emerged as 25-24 winners over Chile in their second game of the U20s Canada Conference on Thursday at the University of Guelph.
Tries from Mathew Klimchuk, Ethan Jurgeneit and Sol Jacques, as well as a string of successful conversions by Jamin Hodgkins including an under pressure, game-winning kick secured the victory.
We were up against it, Canada Mens U20s Head Coach Adam Roberts said post-match. Our discipline was a bit of an issue and we couldnt seem to gain momentum, but they stuck with the plan, stayed with each other and kept battling. It was fantastic to see them have a go, stay in it, stay in the fight and keep working. These are the type of character wins that we need. This is the next generation and Im just so proud of them.
Canada came into Tuesdays game on the back of a 32-24 defeat to Zimbabwe in their opening fixture, while Chile lost 27-3 to Uruguay in the tournaments curtain raiser on Saturday.
Following a scoreless start to the match thanks to well-drilled defence from both teams, Hodgkins eventually gave Canada the lead in the 21st minute as he expertly dispatched his kick between the posts from a penalty. Chile then responded with a penalty conversion of their own just five minutes later to tie things up.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men when Juan Noriega was shown a yellow card. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Chile were able to score the games first try four minutes before the half as Dante Marchesse went over to make the score 10-3. Another Hodgkins penalty conversion cut their lead to just three points on the first halfs final play.
After the break, Chile scored their second try as their forwards collected a lineout and drove the resulting maul over the line to touch down. Canada responded when, following a sustained period of pressure, they swung the ball out to substitute Klimchuk who outpaced the Chile defence on the wing to go over.
The Canadians then went in front for the first time in the match as Jurgeneit scored the go-ahead try midway through the second half. Chile came back to retake the lead and make it 24-18, but the hosts remained patient and scored their third try when Sol Jacques went over. Hodgkins successful kick from the resulting conversion gave Canada a narrow 25-24 advantage.
And that was how the match finished as the home team collected a first vital win of the tournament. Earlier in the afternoon, Uruguay came away with a 35-12 victory over Zimbabwe to take pole position in the standings.
The last round of fixtures at the tournament will see Canada take on Uruguay at 6:15 p.m. Eastern / 3:15 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, August 23. Thats after Zimbabwe face Chile at 3:30 p.m. Eastern / 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Admission is FREE.
*Canada Name Team to Face Chile on Thursday at 3:15pm PT – Five Changes Made to Starting Lineup*
Head Coach Adam Roberts has made one change to the tight five with UBC prop Payton Teneycke replacing Tyler Matchem at tighthead. The scrum did well against Zimbabwe, especially applying pressure from the loosehead side.
There’s one change in the loose forwards with UBC’s Sol Jacques replacing Matt Klimchuk at blindside flanker.
James Biss, who will be joining UBC this season, replaces Jamin Hodgkins at #10. Hodgkins moves to fullback replacing Ted Champion.
The centre pairing of Talon McMullin and Liam Bowman remains the same with Alastair Marshall replacing Takoda McMullin on the wing.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Mens U20s match day roster has been confirmed for the teams second round-robin fixture of the U20s Canada Conference against Chile.
Following a revision to the kickoff times for the tournaments remaining matches, Head Coach Adam Roberts side will now face Chile at 6:15 p.m. Eastern / 3:15 p.m. Pacific on Thursday, August 18 at the University of Guelph. That follows Uruguay versus Zimbabwe which now kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern / 12:30 p.m. Pacific. The full revised tournament schedule can be found below.
Canada go into the game on the back of an opening-round, 32-24 defeat to Zimbabwe, while Chile were beaten 27-3 by Uruguay in their first match. Both teams will be aiming to make amends in this fixture and put themselves back in the running to claim the championship.
Roberts has made several changes to the starting XV which took on Zimbabwe. Remaining in the lineup, though, are the three try-scorers Relmu Wilson-Valdes, Mehdi Porchet and Ethan Fryer. Meanwhile, Jamin Hodgkins, who started at fly half in the first match and struck a number of successful conversions, will line up at full back with James Biss coming in at No. 10.
“From the moment we finished our first game, we’ve been open and analyzed where we fell short, Roberts commented. The boys’ renewed energy and desire to return committed to training is a testament to their character. Their skills and pace are advancing at every training session and they are ready to rock Chile.”
This is a non-ticketed event and fans who wish to attend the matches are encouraged to do so.
REVISED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Match Day 2 – August 18, 2022
Kickoff 3:30 p.m. ET: Uruguay vs. Zimbabwe
Kickoff 6:15 p.m. ET: Canada vs Chile
Match Day 3 August 23, 2022
Kickoff 3:30 p.m. ET: Chile vs. Zimbabwe
Kickoff 6:15 p.m. ET: Canada vs Uruguay
WHERE TO WATCH
The U20s Canada Conference 2022 will be streamed LIVE on Rugby Canadas YouTube channel. Click here to access the page where the livestream will be located.
CANADAS MENS U20 MATCH DAY ROSTER VS CHILE
1. Mehdi Porchet (Geneva, Switzerland) – Stade Montois RFC
2. David Scollon (Mississauga, ON) University of Guelph
3. Payton Teneycke (Brandon, MB) – UBC
4. Logan Weidner (North Vancouver, BC) RC Narbonne
5. Alastair Bruce (Cape Town, South Africa) – Pacific Pride
6. Sol Jacques (Penticton, BC) – UBC
7. Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA) – Pacific Pride / New England Free Jacks
8. Relmu Wilson-Valdes (Nelson, BC) – UBC
9. Sam Reimer (Ajax, ON) – Pacific Pride / Toronto Arrows
10. James Biss (London, England) – Durham University
11. Alastair Marshall (Hudson Bay, SK) – UBC
12. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC
13. Liam Bowman (Oakville, ON) – US Montauban
14. Kobe Faust (Uxbridge, ON) University of Guelph / Toronto Arrows
15. Jamin Hodgkins (Bermuda) – Cardiff Met University
REPLACEMENTS
16. Michael Di Lella Jr. (Orono, ON) University of Guelph
17. Joe McNulty (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC
18. Ethan Jurgeneit (Barrie, ON) – Trinity Western University
19. Lukas Scheck (Regina, SK) Canadas Senior Mens Sevens
20. Adam Doyle (Kingston, ON) – Queens University
21. Caden Wilson (Vancouver, BC) – UBC
22. Mathew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) – Pacific Pride
23. Jack East (Wanaka, New Zealand) – Pacific Pride