Canada rues missed opportunities in tie with U.S. in Rugby World Cup qualifier
HAMILTON — Canada heads into the return leg of its Rugby World Cup qualifier with the U.S. on even terms but rueing missed opportunities after a wild and woolly 28-28 tie Saturday.
Canada squandered a first-half lead and needed to reel off 10 late points just to secure the tie on a warm but windy day before 13,187 at Tim Hortons Field. A 70th-minute Aaron Carpenter try and 78th-minute Shane O’Leary penalty pulled the Canadians even going into the finale of the aggregate points series July 1 in San Diego.
Both teams had chances to pull ahead in the dying minutes.
American fly half A.J. MacGinty was wide on a dropped goal in the final minute before O’Leary missed a long-range penalty to leave the score knotted.