U20 mount second half comeback to defeat USA 13-12

The Canadian under 20 women’s team had a satisfying one point victory over their US counterparts, winning 13-12, to wrap a quick five day assembly in Lakeland, Florida.

Trailing 12-8 with just a few minutes to go, it was the superb running of replacement wing Katie McNally that sealed the deal for Canada as stepped gingerly in scoring next to the corner flag to put her team in the lead by a point.

Canada withstood the pressure of the Americans in the dying moments to save the victory.

That being said, the US had the measure of the young Canadian team in the first half as Brie Anna Barto and Canadace Barley scored tries, along with a conversion from Anne Lee to take a 12-3 lead at half time.

Canada became galvanized and reorganized following the break.  Outside centre Amanda Thornborough of Brandon, Manitoba applied pressure at the US tryline with a blocked kick which second row Misha Maric pounced on for Canada’s first try. The conversion was missed, but Canada was back in business only four points adrift at 12-8.

Led by probing runs from fullback Kayla Moleschi and #8 Kelsey Willoughby – and great work both offensively and defensively from centre pairing MacKenzie Higgs and Thornborough there would be no way through for the USA in the second half.

One of the Coaches for the U20 team, Pat Fleck, a former Canadian team scrum-half himself,  said to his players post match, “That was a well-earned win. I challenged a few of you individually and you all responded really well.”

Head Coach Jason Young was impressed by how quickly his team gelled in such a short time together.

“We came together very well after a very short three days,” he commented. “We used all of our subs, and everyone really had a hand in the victory. We definitely won together.”

For Kayla Moleschi, who already has four years of Canadian representative experience, having started in the program from the age of 17, the improved communication on the field from the first half to the second half appeared to be the key to the win.

“From the first half to the second, our communication really improved and it was clear we had a set goal; that was a definite key,” said the Williams Lake, BC native. “Our defence on the line was really good, and we played very knitty-gritty, which was actually a good thing. We were really good under pressure.”