Arrows roll over Mystics in Boston

The Ontario Arrows secured their second straight win on US soil as they defeated Boston Mystics by 29-19 at Pine Banks Park on Saturday. The scoreline suggests a close encounter but in truth the Arrows were in control throughout, running up a 29-7 score before conceding two tries in the dying minutes of the match.

Setting the platform for the victory was the scrum, with Canadian international props Rob Brouwer and Tom Dolezel doing a number on their opponents. Five penalties won and four taken against the head was the final tally as first phase possession proved near impossible for the Mystics.

Kolby Francis scored two tries in the first half, the first a simple No8 pick and the second on the back of a pushover. Brouwer added a score of his own from close range, just rewards for the hard work of the Arrows pack.

The second half started just the same with Ontario dominant and AJ Quattrin made it four tries for the forwards. With a comfortable 24-0 lead replacements started to make their way into the match.

Boston finally got inside the Arrows 22 and winger Vini Daley raced in for their first try just short of the hour mark, but Ontario scrumhalf Alex Gliksten erased it soon after with a sniping run to seal the result.

Late scores to Devin Ibanez and Dana Corcoran, each converted by Santiago Bertranou, made the score a little more palatable for the home side. In an official release Arrows coach Chris Silverthorn was content with the result but less impressed with the finale.

“I was very pleased with the manner in which we played. I was impressed with how our forwards dictated the pace of the game, especially in the first half, when we rarely allowed Boston inside our own 22.

“Getting back-to-back wins is a great feeling, but the two late tries we conceded will leave a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. The final score was a little closer than we would have liked, especially after such a strong start to the game, but it reinforces our need to work on closing out matches, and ensuring we put in a full 80-minute shift. Our young side will take some good lessons from this win.”

The two sides will meet again on May 5 when the Arrows at last make their long-awaited home debut at York Lions Stadium. A scheduled match against Rugby United New York in Toronto on April 14 was called off due to an ice storm.

 

SCORING

MYSTICS 19
Tries – V. Daley (58’), D. Ibanez (74’), D. Corcoran (80’)
Cons – S. Bertranou 2/3 (75’, 80’)

ARROWS 29
Tries – K. Francis 2 (12’, 36’), R. Brouwer (18’), A. Quattrin (44’), A. Gliksten (66’)
Cons – W. Kelly 2/5 (19’, 37’)

 

TEAMS

BOSTON MYSTICS
1 Dave McKenna, 2 Jeff Laflamme, 3 Pino Maupese, 4 Andrew Burns, 5 Michael Kaivelata, 6 Chris Frazier, 7 Devin Ibanez, 8 Owen Hundt, 9 Ian Luciano, 10 Santiago Bertranou, 11 Vini Daley, 12 Matías de Paolis, 13 Paulo Aukuso, 14 Stephen Dazzo, 15 Jared Collinson

Replacements: 16 Gianni Miceli, 17 Greg Rasmuson, 18 Scott Lucas, 19 Dana Corcoran, 20 Sam Sirell, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Mike Rudzinsky, 23 Aki Raymond

ONTARIO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer, 2 AJ Quattrin, 3 Tom Dolezel, 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Marcello Wainwright, 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Kolby Francis, 9 Alex Gliksten, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Johnny Sheridan, 12 Jamie Leveridge, 13 Jon West, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Martial Lagain, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Mike Smith, 19 Josh van Horne, 20 Tom van Horne, 21 Mario van der Westhuizen, 22 Shawn Windsor, 23 Mitch Richardson

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jim Rogers (USAR)