LANGFORD, B.C. — Kyle Baillie and Andrew Coe scored second-half tries but it wasn't enough as Canada fell 39-23 against Argentina XV on Friday at the Americas Rugby Championship.
Ciaran Hearn converted on a pair of penalty kicks in the first half as the Canadians kept it close.
Matias Lucas Osadczuk and Tomas Cubilla had tries late in the first half to open the game up and give Argentina XV a 22-6 advantage at halftime.
Baillie's try in the 49th minute and an ensuing conversion made it 22-13. A try from Coyne six minutes later made it a two-point game.
Each side traded penalty kicks before two tries late from Argentina XV helped them pull away.
The game wasn't considered an official test match as Argentina XV is a developmental side.
Only one member of the Argentina starting 15 has been capped for the senior side, which is ranked 10th in the world.
New Zealand-based hooker Jordan Olsen, who qualifies for Canada through his Winnipeg-based family, made his debut in the 62nd minute as a substitute.
Canada, ranked 21st in the world, dropped to 1-3-0 at the Americas Rugby Championship with its lone win coming against Chile in a 56-0 rout last Friday.
The Canadians are missing most of their top overseas pros and wrap up tournament play on March 8 in Seattle against the U.S.
The Canadian Press
