Canada struck early, capitalizing on a penalty against the USA team to go up 3-0 off the accurate boot of Peter Jawl in the game’s early minutes . The flyhalf proved a dangerous offensive threat to the Eagles throughout the match, completing seven of nine kicks – five conversions and two penalties – and a try for 21 of Canada ’s points on the day .

As the half drew on, the aggressive Canadian defense continued to apply pressure, cutting short each of the U . S . side’s attempts toward the goal line . Canada captain Sean White was next to score for his team and by minute 13, Toni Wodzicki added another try to the U-20 team’s scoring charge, with Jawl successfully booting the extras each time . White had one more journey across the goal line in the first (Jawl conversion), with additional help from Jordan Wilson-Ross and Chris Barrett, who ran in a try each before the break, and a second penalty kick from Jawl put the Canadians up 37-0 before the half .

In the second, Canada caught an early break when Matt Mosby’s chip and chase efforts resulted in a try in the far right corner and Jawl came through with another conversion . However, the USA side dialed up its physical intensity a notch defensively soon after . The Eagles were able to move the ball inside the 22-meter line on multiple counts, but couldn’t get their offense going .

The USA held Canada scoreless until just 15 minutes remained, when the A side’s pack pushed the ball within arms reach of the try zone before pitching to Jawl on the outside, who also completed his own conversion from a tough angle . In a game where much of the time was spent in the scrum, the USA looked to capitalize on back-to-back penalties against their Canadian opponents, but the U-19 Eagles’ scoring charge was cut short . Following multiple warnings from the referee as the physicality of each side’s mounted, each side went a man down before the close of the game, and at the final whistle it was Canada 56, USA 0 .

“All credit to Canada , putting aside the age difference, they played extraordinary today . We were a bit tentative at all the breakdowns in the first half . We were not attacking in defense, you have to attack in defense in this game,” said Under-19 Coach Mike Kwedar . “In the second half we played a lot better . If we had played in the first half the way we played in the second, there’s no telling what would have happened . We have a lot to work on, but there are certainly a great deal of things from today we can build on . ”