Romania edges Canada with last-minute 21-20 victory in rugby action

BUCHAREST, Romania - Tyler Ardron and Harry Jones scored tries for Canada, but a penalty kick on the final play of the game gave Romania a 21-20 victory in rugby action on Saturday.

Canada took a late lead on a penalty kick from substitute James Pritchard, but Romania responded with a penalty kick from inside-centre Florin Vlaicu as the whistle blew to end the game.

Romania got on the board first when Vlaicu made two successful penalties to put the hosts up 6-0 in the opening fifteen minutes.

After battering the Romanian line back continuously, Canada responded as Ardron found an opening and slipped underneath the goalposts. A successful conversion kick from Jones gave Canada its first lead of the game at 7-6.

Romania continued to rely on their kicking game as Vlaicu booted two more penalties before half to restore Romania's lead to five points heading into the break.

Canada dominated the first part of the second half, keeping the Romanian side deep in their own zone. That pressure finally turned into points as Jones made a successful penalty kick to cut Romania's lead to two points.

Jones was at it again less than 10 minutes later, scoring Canada's second try of the game and making the conversion to put the visitors up 17-12. But Romania made two successful penalty kicks to regain the lead by a single point before Pritchard's kick.

Canada will now travel to Lisbon to complete its November tour against Portugal on Nov. 23.