Rugby
ESPN staff 7y

Canada beat USA to lift first HSBC Sevens title in Singapore

Rugby, World Rugby Sevens Series

Canada won their first ever HSBC Sevens title, in a historic first all North American final, with a 26-19 victory over the USA at the Singapore sevens.

Canada started at an incredible pace as Matt Mullins outpaced Perry Baker to strike first, stepping inside one defender and outside another, before out sprinting Baker to the line.

Following the restart, Harry Jones played the ball to Johnny Moonlight who, in his 56th event for Canada, drew in the US defence before offloading to the onrushing Jones to run in from halfway and touch down for the second try.

Two became three when really poor defence by the US at the breakdown, saw Canada kick through inside their 22, and Mike Fuailefau ran in to gather and score to give Canada a 19-0 lead with 40 seconds remaining in the half.

In a remarkable final two plays Canada seemed to capitulate. First to strike was Perry Baker, a star in sevens after a knee injury saw a prospective NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles end. He grabbed his 40th try in eight events this year to become this season's top try scorer.

As the game went into added time, the USA took possession of the restart and when it was spun wide to Stephen Tomasin, he scored in the left corner, stretching to touch down under pressure from two Canada defenders to close the margin to 19-12 at half-time.

A fantastic defensive effort saw Jones and Mike Fuailefau deny Tomasin a second try in the early moments of the second half, holding him up short as he looked to draw USA level.

It looked as though there would be no stopping their comeback and it was Baker who brought them level at 19-19, his incredible pace leaving Canadian defenders in his wake before touching down.

But this Canadian team looked to a point to prove and having weathered the storm Jones and Nathan Hirayama looked to break, but saw their paths blocked.

From a resulting wayward Hirayama pass, Lucas Hammond gathered, looked up to see gaping hole in the US defence, which he exploited to run in to score from outside the 22.

With a little under 20 seconds a US knock on gave Canada possession and following the tap, Hirayama ran the ball back from just outside the US 22, back inside his own half and out of play to secure a historic victory.

England took the bronze medal match with a 14-12 victory over Australia, New Zealand defeated South Africa for the first time in the last 12 months in a 17-12 win in the 5/6 playoff, while Wales claimed the Challenge Trophy with a 24-12 victory over Scotland.

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