The USA Rugby South U19s needed a big second-half comeback to defeat Trinidad & Tobago and book a place in the Rugby Americas North U19 Championships final Saturday in Miramar, Fla.

Trinidad showcased their dangerous long-range attacking style and the South defense had trouble keeping up early on.

This led to two penalties - one for pulling the lineout jumper down, and one for not rolling away in the ruck. Both were slotted by flyhalf Leon Pantor. Both of those penalties came after lineouts that were set up by previous USA South penalties.

Calvin Gentry made a nice break to get the South going forward, and the Panthers got over the tryline but were held up. From the ensuing scrum, the South’s backline move was muffed badly, but Trinidad was offside and wing Sean O’Driscoll put the kick over.

But Trinidad had more of the better attacking chances, and scored a try from a scrum near midfield, running a loop move and putting the wing in at the corner. That made it 11-3 Trinidad & Tobago. The South came back with a counter-attack that exposed some slow Trinidad organization. A high tackle led to another kickable penalty, and O’Driscoll made it 11-6 with the first half almost done.

But there was time for one more attack, and Trinidad made it count, sending it wide from a scrum once more and, after a few phases, scoring on the right wing.

Trinidad led 16-6, but in the second half, the South defended a little better, and started to control possession. They used their forwards more and secured the ball a little better, and then flyhalf Shea O’Hanlon grubbered the ball through, picked it up, and there faked a pass before going over. It was a big individual score, and one the Panthers needed.

Down 16-11 now, the South looked to regain the lead, but Trinidad struck again. A tackle jarred the ball loose and then a fly-hack ahead and the speeder Trinidadian players chased hard and scored in the corner once more. That made it 23-11 with the touchline conversion. 

The South replied. After Trinidad missed touch on a penalty, the Panthers countered, ran through a few rucks, and then flanker Austin Parrish burst through and went for the corner from 50 meters out. The kick was missed, but the South came right back. Runs from prop Tucker Donlon and flanker Nikolas Koumandarakis set up a chance for O’Hanlon, who offloaded to Cordell Ramsey who went into the corner. The ref conferred with his assistants, and then awarded the try.

So suddenly it was 23-21 with about nine minutes to go.

Trinidad seemed to sense they might let the game slip away, and panicked, somewhat. The South just ran the forwards in the tight channels, and eventually Trinidad was called for coming in from the side. 

The Panthers tapped quickly and started to move the ball. They got to the 22, and while Andrew Rappe was caught, Trinidad was pinged for coming in from the side again. This was a clear kicking opportunity, and O’Driscoll lined up the kick, and sent it through.

For the first time in the game, the South led 24-23.

The South controlled the ball fairly well the remanding six minutes, but did give away a penalty with less than a minute to go. Trinidad ran it, and lost the ball forward in the tackle, and that essentially ended the game.

The USA South held on, and will face Mexico in the final on Saturday.

USA South 24

Tries: O’Hanlon, Parrish, Ramsey

Pens: O’Driscoll 3

Trinidad & Tobago 23