The Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U16s improved to 2-0 against the Ontario U16s after holding off their hosts for a 24-21 win at the University of Guelph on Friday.

Earlier this week, the EIRA team needed to come from behind to beat the Ontario U16s. Much like their first meeting, the visitors had to claw back a late deficit to secure the victory.

Togetherness Sees EIRA U16s Past Ontario

Eagle Impact's Payton Wall and Alex Kennach scored tries and Francisco Liguori converted both and added a penalty, but still the EIRA team trailed 21-17 with time winding down. Then No. 8 Casey Burr picked up from the base of the scrum, ran to the west side, and powered over for the go-ahead try. Liguori hit the conversion to give the EIRA a 24-21 lead.

Ontario U16s had time to come back and threw everything at the Americans but couldn't quite punch in a winning try.

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"The boys are beginning to really gel as a unit and are beginning to execute the structure in place," EIRA coach Jeff Bonnett said. "The lineup stayed the same to keep continuity going forward with the reserves coming off the bench making impacts and keeping the intensity level high. These boys are believing they are a family and are truly playing for each other which is really something to watch. We are looking forward to Saturday's challenge and taking the next step."

The teams play once more on Saturday, as do the EIRA U17s/U18s, who rebounded from an opening loss to Ontario 18s to win 24-19 in the rematch.

EIRA Lineup v Ontario:

1. David Afaese
2. Mike Wilder
3. Blake Ecklund
4. Colin Willsey
5. David Boatwright
6. Charles Martel
7. Dominic Tiauqa
8. Alex Kennach
9. Damian Morley
10. Jacob Line
11. Aidan Smith
12. Matthew Zaudtke
13. Peyton Wall
14. Darius Law
15. Francisco Liguori

Reserves
16. Marco Caramanico
17. Dakota Duncan
18. Gavin Cunningham
19. Casey Burr
20. Philip Tracey
21. Elijah Valle
22. Juan Molinari
23. Donovan Law
24. Henri Ross-Pelat
25. Jake Pretorius
26. Gramoz Bici