All-Americans Down Canada U17s
After a week long assembly at the University of California - Santa Barbara, USA Rugby Boy's High School All-Americans (HSAAs) finished their camp off with a 44-29 win over Canada's Under-17s team.
The HSAAs came out of the gate strong with several punishing runs and big hits leading to the first try by loosehead prop, Maka Tameilau. The conversion missed the mark, but the HSAAs were up 5-0 early. Two minutes later, Matt Chipman of Jesuit High School touched down for the first of his four tries in the match, bringing the score to 10-0.
Canada scored a try in the 15th minute to bring them within 5 points of the All-Americans. On the ensuing kickoff, two Canadian players collided in mid air while trying to claim the ball and the stray ball bounced right into the hands of All-American Josh Chomiczewski who outpaced the stunned Canadians for the third HSAA try of the day. Jack Mcaullife of Gonzaga High School was able to slot the kick bringing the score to 17-5. HSAA eight man, Blake Simons of De LaSalle High School, would score another converted try before halftime bringing the score to 24-12.
Chipman's blistering speed would prove to be too much for the Canadians in the second half and would score three more galloping tries in the second forty. Five minutes into the second half Chipman sliced through the Canadian defense for another five-pointer. Canada would retaliate almost immediately with tries of their own, bringing the score to 29-24 after 46 minutes of play. Lemoto Filikitonga of the San Mateo Warriors would power his way over the line from his position in the centers to again build the 10 point buffer for the HSAAs. Chipman would close the game out with two more five-pointers, pushing the score to 44-29. Chipman was named Man of the Match.
"We played a fluid and open game,' Head Coach Salty Thompson said of the match. "In the five days we had together, we didn't focus on running a game as much as player development.' Thompson said that we was proud of the team and was pleasantly surprised with how quickly the players were able to react to the camp environment and learn new skills and drills.
Moving forward, Thompson will look to recruit and add to the already talented pool of athletes, with an emphasis on getting younger players in the All-American system.
USA High School All-Americans: Tries: Tameilau (5′), Chipman (7′, 45′, 60′, 70′), Chomiczewski (15′), Simons (22′), Filikitonga (52′) Conversions: McAullife (23′, 46′)
USA High School All-Americans: 1 Maka Tameilau (Peninsula Green, Calif.), 2 Cameron Falcon (Shaw Eagle Rugby, La.), 3 Henry Hall* (St. George's School, Wash.), 4 Luc Hamilton (De La Salle High School, Calif.), 5 Dylan Heyvaert (Penn Rugby, Ind.), 6 Michael Bush (Jesuit High School, Calif.), 7 Cody Powell (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Kan.), 8 Blake Simons (De La Salle High School, Calif.), 9 Charley Hutchings (Tampa Barbarians, Fla.), 10 Sione Aisea (Oregon Rugby, Ore.), 11 Matt Chipman (Jesuit High School, Calif.), 12 Tevita Bloomfield (Highland Rugby, Utah) , 13 Lemoto Filikitonga (San Mateo Warriors, Calif.), 14 Josh Chomiczewski (Montini Catholic HS, Ill.), 15 Jack Mcauliffe (Gonzaga College High School, Va.)
Reserves: 16 Bruce Wallace (Fallbrook HS Warriors, Calif.), 17 Shawn Wagner (Penn High School, Ind.), 18 Thomas Stachowiak (Mishawaka Marian, Ind.), 19 Nicholas Salaber (Dixon Rugby Football Club, Calif.), 20 Casper Huizinega (Morris Rugby Club, N.J.), 21 Joe Sullivan (Royal Irish Society), 22 Parker Gilbert (The American School in London/London Wasps), 23 Patrick Barrientes (Jesuit High School, Calif.)
* Denotes captain
For more information:
Jarrod Beckstrom | Communications Manager | USA Rugby | jbeckstrom@usa.rugby |
