James Bay Athletic Association player John Moonlight scored the only try of the game as Canada’s senior men’s rugby team defeated the U.S.A. Eagles 16-9 on the opening match of the 2013 Pacific Nations Cup in Edmonton on Saturday.
Plenty of local talent took the wind and rain pelted pitch of Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton, led by a trio of Oak Bay High Barbarians turned James Bay players, Sean White and Connor Braid, who started at scrum half and fullback, respectively, and IRB Sevens star Phil Mack, who subbed in partway through the game.
It was Braid who handled the kicking duties. He split the uprights early on a penalty conversion, his first of 11 points on the day.
Moonlight’s tackle-ducking try followed and Braid converted to put Canada up 10-0.
Coming into the second half, the Eagles changed the momentum of the game as U.S. fullback Adam Siddal hit his second of three penalty goals on the day to make it 10-6 for Canada. But Braid hit two more penalty kicks in a short time span to put Canada up 16-6.
Rugby Canada’s recently named Men’s 15s Player of the Year Tyler Ardron, wearing No. 6, was named man of the match.
Up next for the Eagles is a home game against Tonga, June 14 in California.
Canada’s next 2013 Pacific Nations Cup match is June 5 at Twin Elms Rugby Park in Ottawa against Fiji.
In between PNC matches Canada will host Ireland at BMO Field in Toronto on June 15
Victoria rugby flavour
In addition to locally raised players Braid, White and Mack, most of the starters had also suited up for Victoria based clubs at times in their careers. Featured were Castaway Wanderers Hubert Buydens and Andrew Tiedemann at prop, Ray Barkwill at hooker, Nanyak Dala in the second row and Ciaran Hearn at wing. Forwards Jason Marshall, Tyler Ardron, John Moonlight and captain Aaron Carpenter have all played for James Bay, as has winger Taylor Paris.
Canada’s Roster for USA - Name, (Club/CRC), hometownHead Coach: Kieran Crowley1 - Hubert Buydens, (Saskatoon Wild Oats/ Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, Sask.2 - Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps/ Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, Ont.3 - Jason Marshall, (Atlantique Stade Rochelais/B.C. Bears) Vancouver, B.C. 4 - Brett Beukeboom, (Plymouth Albion RFC) Lindsay, Ont.5. - Tyler Hotson, (London Scottish FC) Vancouver, B.C.6 - Tyler Ardron, (Brantford Harlequins/ Ontario Blues) Lakefield, Ont. 7 - John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, Ont.8 - Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, Ont.9 - Sean White, (James Bay AA/Pacific Tyee) Victoria, B.C.10 - Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/B.C. Bears) Vancouver, B.C.11 - Taylor Paris, (Glasgow Warriors) Barrie, Ont. 12 - Pat Parfrey, (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL13 - Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/ Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, Alta.14 - Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL15 - Connor Braid, (Doncaster Knights/ Pacific Tyee) Victoria, B.C.
Reserves16 - Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/Pacific Tyee) Vancouver, B.C.17 - Andrew Tiedemann, (FC Auch Gers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, Alta.18 - Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, Ont.19 - Jon Phelan, (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, Que.20 - Cameron Pierce, (Kelowna Crows RFC) Coldstream, B.C. 21 - Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, Sask22 - Phil Mack, (UVIC Vikes/Pacific Tyee) Victoria, B.C.23 - Liam Underwood, (Queens University/Ontario Blues) Toronto, Ont.
USA Eagles Roster for Canada
1 - Shawn Pittman2 – Zach Fenoglio3 – Eric Fry4 – Brian Doyle5 – Louis Stanfill6 – John Quill7 – Peter Dahl8 – Todd Clever9 – Robbie Shaw10 – Toby L’Estrange11 – James Paterson12 – Andrew Suniula13 – Troy Hall14 – Luke Hume15 – Adam Siddall
Rugby Canada’s 2013 Summer Match Schedule:May 5: Canada 16-9 U.S.APNC: CANADA vs. FIJI, Wednesday, June 5, 6pm local time, Twin Elm Rugby Park, OttawaPNC: CANADA vs. TONGA , Saturday, June 8, 2pm local time, Richardson Stadium, Queen's University, KingstonIRB Test: CANADA vs. IRELAND, Saturday, June 15, 8 pm local time, BMO Field, TorontoPNC: JAPAN vs. CANADA Wednesday, June 19, 7:10pm local time Mizuho Rugby Ground, Nagoya, Japan
World Cup Qualifier Match No.1Aug. 17: USA vs. CANADA, kick off TBD at Charleston, South Carolina
World Cup Qualifier Match No.2Aug. 24: USA vs. CANADA, 4 p.m. at BMO Field, Toronto