RYAN SMITH PLAYS FLY HALF AS CANADA LOSES TO IRELAND A IN CHURCHILL CUP 20 March 07

Brampton RFC's Ryan Smith returned to the Canada side at fly half this weekend as he returned from France's T 14 team Montauban to represent his country against Ireland A in the opening rounds of the Churchill Cup. Canada played well in some phases of the game, and came back from a 17-6 half-time deficit, to take an early second half lead 22-20. However, at the final whistle,  Canada fell 39-20 to Ireland ‘A.’

In front of a crowd of 5,000 at Sandy Park in Exeter, home of the Chiefs, Ireland ‘A’ outside-half Jeremy Staunton scored 14 of his side's points, in a 6 tries to 2 victory. Canada fought well throughout the game making some telling tackles and keeping shape to its game despite Irish pressure. But in the end, the power of Ireland ‘A’s forwards set up their victory.

Canada scored two well constructed tries in the backs, and they often had the better of their opponents. Craig Culpan’s and Dean van Camp’s tries pulled Canada back into the game and showed what the team can do. However, some erratic kicks in the first half  allowed Ireland too much possession.

Ireland earned the first penalty of the game at 2 minutes for Canada going over the top. However, Staunton failed to score when the 35-metre attempt hit the crossbar. After some fine phases of play with open-side Nanyak Dala looking lively, Canada found itself under pressure when wing Dean van Camp found himself caught in possession and failed to find touch. This led to Ireland ‘A’ running the ball back at Canada and finally driving lock Ryan Caldwell over the line for a 5-0 lead.

James Pritchard cut that lead at 16 minutes when he struck true on his second attempt at goal after missing an earlier one at 9 minutes: 5-3. Canada ran the ball at every opportunity and indeed looked the superior set of backs, but lost the ball in the 24th minute and when Ireland began running the counter attack, Canada’s defense came up too quickly allowing Irish centre Darren Cave to break a tackle and sprint clear to score wide out. 10-3.

At thirty minutes Nanyak Dala who enjoyed a fine first game had to leave the game with a leg problem, and was replaced by Adam Kleeberger. At 32 minutes Ireland ‘A’ used its forwards to take the ball into Canadian territory, then the ball went left where a skip pass found streaking wing Keith Earls who went over in the corner. Staunton converted: 17-3. At 37 minutes James Pritchard hit his second penalty when Ireland ‘A’ had been deemed offside following a fine Canadian attack. 17-6 at half-time.

When the second half began, Canada came out with spirit, and with only two minutes gone, Ryan Smith's Montauban club mate fullback Mike Pyke took a kick deep in his half. He beat a couple of tackles, then set off at full pace. When he hit the Irish 40 meter line he fed centre Craig Culpan who was tearing up on his outside and the Meraloma player, stepped inside and outside two tacklers and scored under the posts. Pritchard converted: 17-13. “I was pleased to score at that point in time,” said the Vancouver born New Zealander. “We seemed to have them on the back foot just then, but it didn’t matter in the end because we didn’t win the game. I think we beat ourselves tonight. We made many mistakes, and at this level you get punished for that. All in all, we have to play a lot better and I think we did do many things right. We just need to polish things up.”

After this score, Canada was full of confidence and purpose and nearly scored again when Pritchard chipped through and trapped the Ireland ‘A’ fullback on his own line. A concerted effort by the forwards failed to gain the try line, and a dropped pass ended what had been a promising chance. Canada kept pressing and after winning a line-out, outside-half Ryan Smith flipped a pass out to Spicer, who fed Pritchard, in from his opposite wing, who in turn fed Dean van Camp for the big Port Perry man to score in the corner. Pritchard converted and Canada claimed a 20-17 lead at 53 minutes.

No sooner had Canada gained the lead than Ireland ‘A’ came right back with a try by substitute fullback John Heartey Staunton chipped a ball through for Heartey to beat Canada’s defense to the ball. The referee Andrew Small, after checking with TMO Tony Spreadbury, declared the try. 22-20. Ireland ‘A’ continued its pressure and at 62 minutes after taking a kick to touch for a penalty, Ireland threw long for international flanker Johnny O’Conner to touch down. Staunton converted: 29-20.

Staunton added a penalty at 70 minutes after Canada was offside at a maul: 32-20. Canada responded with a powerful drive from a line-out and replacement prop Kevin Takchuk took the ball to the line. Referee Small wasn’t sure of the try and went to the TMO, and after a long pause, declared “No try!” A disappointed Canada came back for the scrum-down and nearly scored again by forcing the maul over, but to no avail. In the final minutes, Ireland ‘A’ then worked its way back into Canadian territory for Staunton to score after his forwards had driven the maul and the ball came out. Staunton deftly stepped inside his man and scored. He converted taking the score to 39-20. Final.
 

“ Frustrating,” said Assistant Coach John Tait. “We made simple mistakes under pressure and let a lead disappear. Once you get a foot on a neck, you have to keep it down. We were a bit unlucky not to have Kevin Tkachuk’s try count because had we scored there we might have enjoyed a momentum shift. Some of our young guys played really well and the reserves who came on made a big impact. Morgan Williams played an incredible game and his leadership shone through.”

“ We will learn from this and sort out tonight’s errors. But by the same token the New Zealand Maori will be two or three levels above tonight’s opposition and while we scrambled tonight and saved a few tries, the Maori we won’t get away with that. Simple mistakes are killers at this level.”

Ireland A: Sexton, McKenzie, Cave, Mallon, Earls, Staunton, Keane, Hogan, Fogarty, Ross, Caldwell, Farley, Keogh, O'Connor, Wilson. Replacements: Hearty for Sexton (47), McFadden for Mallon (71), Campbell for Keane (70), Cronin for Fogarty (79), Fitzpatrick for Ross (58), Gannon for Farley (47), Muldoon for Keogh (75).

Canada: Pyke, Prichard, Culpan, Spicer, Van Camp, Smith, Williams, D. Pletch, Riordan, Franklin, Jackson, Burak, Yukes, Dala, McKeen. Replacements: Fairhurst for Williams (80), Tkachuk for D. Pletch (49), M. Pletch for Franklin (71), Carpenter for Yukes (62), Kleeberger for Dala (28) Daypuck for Smith (78).
Not Used: Biddle