Canada 29

United States 7

A robust Canada proved too strong for the US and marched on to the Plate Final were they will meet France at the weekend.

The Canadians tightened the screw from the start and it was no surprise when they took the lead through Dave Knowles who bundled over for a converted try on 14 minutes.

Just five minutes later they doubled their score with Ramzi Azar the chief beneficiary of porous defending by Eagles for another converted try. Dan Harlow then gave Canada a 19-0 lead but Scott Stewart, who slotted home both earlier conversions, was unable to make it three in a row.

By half-time the game was almost over when Fred Asselin exploded from just outside his own 22-yard line leaving a mass of red, white and blue markers trailing in his wake as he powered to the try line giving Canada a 24-0 lead.

The second half saw the US assisted by the wind and they managed to claw their back with Dan Payne scoring a converted try.

But fittingly Canada, who dominated the match, had the final say in the final minute when Dave Laing bundled over to score.

Canada coach Spencer Robinson said he believed his team deserved a place in the Plate Final. "We're delighted to be in the Plate Final, it's were we deserve to be," he said. "The US played with the wind in the second half and kept possession for longer than they did in the first period and that tested us defensively.

"The longer you're in the tournament the more cohesion you get. But the longer you're in the tournament the tougher the opposition becomes and it will certainly be an interesting match against France in the final."