Two late Falcon tries seal win
Alipate Tuilevuka is tracked down by Canada East's Aaron Carpenter (Bissonnette Photos)
Columbus, OH – Two tries deep into injury time saw the US Falcons score an improbable come from behind 25-24 victory in the opening match of the second round of the North America Four tournament Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio.
Wing Brian Barnard finished an eighty metre try that saw multiple phases spring him free as the late comeback took place with the Canadians down a man. Vaha Esikia scored in the 85th minute, and despite a missed dropped-goal attempt at a conversion, the Falcons raced back to centre needing a try for the victory.
The restart allowed the Falcons to retain possession and work the late magic, crushing the Canadian team, who held a 24-15 lead as fulltime elapsed. The Canadians built an 11-10 halftime lead as second row Stu Ault touched down on the half hour, adding to a pair of Derek Daypuck penalties. Jason Pye scored in the 14th minute to give the Falcons a 7-3 lead with Patrick Bell converting.
Jerod Selby scored a try to open the second half, and Derek Daypuck added another two penalties, putting the Canucks into a comfortable 21-10 lead. Chad Erskine then scored in the 70th minute, making the Canadians adjust their defensive stance as the Falcons showed signs of life.
Fullback replacement Carl Pocock, sent off for a team yellow card for repeated infringement in the 72rd minute saw the Canadians down to 14 men with eight minutes remaining, but the fourth official failed to allow Pocock return to the game as it crept into extra time. The heroic tries by Esikia and Barnard followed, putting the Falcons alone in second place behind Canada West, who beat the Hawks 46-7 in the second match of the night.
“I’m happy with the win,” said Falcons coach Jim Love, “but I feel sorry for the Canadians I think they deserved to win but we were lucky. I’m proud of my guys the way they stuck to the task to the end and never quit and that bodes well for the future.”
It was a different reaction in the Canada East tent afterwards with coach Simon Blanks left almost speechless. “Unbelievable!” he said. “I can hardly speak I’m so upset. I usually find positive things to say, but all I can say is full credit to the US boys for winning. They went to the end and didn’t quit in a game that lasted far too long.”
Scoring:
Canada East:
Try: Stu Ault (30), Jarod Selby (44 mins)
Con: Derek Daypuck (44 mins)
Penalty: Derek Daypuck (5, 16,49,77)
Yellow Card: Aaron Carpenter (55 mins) Carl Pocock (74 mins)
Falcons:
Try: Jason Pye: (14 mins), Chad Erskine (70 mins) Vaha Esikia (85 mins) Brian Barnard (87 mins)
Conversion: Patrick Bell (14 mins)
Penalty: Patrick Bell (23 mins)
Yellow Card: Mark Aylor 40 mins