Raptors spoil Arrows unbeaten run

The Toronto Arrows are no longer unbeaten, their perfect start to the Major League Rugby season spoiled by the Colorado Raptors on Friday evening by a final score of 22-19. Neither side will be pleased in the match review with numerous errors heavily affecting continuity.

First points went to the Raptors via Robbie Petzer’s boot at the five minute mark. He looked certain to score the first try soon after but Rene Ranger’s pass slipped from his hands with only a couple meters of green separating him from the tryline.

Petzer knocked over a long-range penalty but it was quickly erased by Sam Malcolm’s first kick of the day. When the two sides emerged from the hydration break it was Colorado who struck with a wonderful team try started by Connor Cook and finished by John Ryberg.

It didn’t take long for the Arrows to fire back. It was a set backline move that saw Gastón Mieres coming in off his wing to split the midfield. After breaking the line, the Uruguayan stepped hard off his right foot to leave Mika Kruse for dead and touch down for a seven pointer.

Toronto took the lead when Malcolm landed a second penalty after a high tackle from Ranger. It was Ranger again the villain when he kicked the ball away at another penalty preventing the quick tap. For this indiscretion he was sent to the bin. The Arrows turned down the point and opted for the corner, but Colorado’s defense held strong and they pushed Malcolm into touch.

After Colroado won their throw-in Sam Slade somehow broke free off the post of a ruck and sprinted to halfway, but he chose the wrong option and the opportunity was lost. Andrew Quattrin’s arriving tackle, however, was dangerous and the hooker joined Ranger in the bin, with Petzer taking the three points on offer to retake the lead.

Disaster struck the Arrows immediately to start the second half. The kickoff was misjudged and the ball bounced straight into Kruse’s hands. This time it was the Raptors winger with the footwork, stepping twice and sprinting into the corner for the try. Petzer’s conversion was off-target but Colorado were up by six.

The game scraped ahead through miscues and ill-discipline from both teams. Malcolm sandwiched two penalty goals around a yellow card to Marco Fepulea’i for team infringements. The second kick leveled the scores but Toronto could take no further advantage of the sin bin.

Instead it was the Raptors who had just a little bit left in the tank. They drove into Arrows territory and Petzer’s 76th minute penalty nudged them ahead. Toronto would get one last opportunity thanks to another Colorado penalty, but the ball was stripped from Tomas de la Vega and the Raptors ground down the final 90 seconds of the game.

The Arrows will enjoy a much-needed bye week to regroup before making the short trip to New York on March 20. Colorado are back in action next Sunday with an East Coast clash against Old Glory DC.

 

SCORING

COLORADO 22
Tries – J. Ryberg (21’), M. Kruse (41’)
Cons – R. Petzer 0/2
Pens – R. Petzer 4/4 (5’, 16’, 40’, 76’)
Yellow cards – R. Ranger (37’), M. Fepulea’i (65’)

TORONTO 19
Tries – G. Mieres (25’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 1/1 (26’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 4/4 (19’, 32’, 64’, 66’)
Yellow cards – A. Quattrin (39’)

 

TEAMS

COLORADO RAPTORS
1 Kelepi Fifita (18 Zak Taulafo 53’), 2 Chad Gough, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Luke White (capt.), 5 Kody O’Neil, 6 Michael Curry (19 Brendan Daly 57′), 7 Connor Cook (20 Mike Stewart 23’ {17 Xendy Tatibouët 67’-75’}), 8 Sam Slade, 9 Carlo de Nysschen (23 Nick Boyer 51’), 10 Ata Malifa (21 Tomás Quinlan 54’), 11 John Ryberg, 12 Robbie Petzer (22 Ryan James 76′), 13 Rene Ranger, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mason Emerson

Not used: 16 Jay Finau

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Pat Lynott 53’), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Steven Ng 73′), 3 Richie Asiata (18 Cole Keith 52’), 4 Kolby Francis (19 Josh van Horne 59′), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Manuel Diana (16 Steven Ng 43’-49’) (20 Peter Milazzo 70’), 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Riley DiNardo 73’), 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Leandro Leivas, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Mitch Richardson HT), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Sam Malcolm

Not used: 23 Will Kelly

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike O’Brien (USA)
Assistants: Steve Gore (USA) & Rick Goldammer (USA)