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A last-gasp try from John Quill gave Rugby United New York a 24-21 win over the Toronto Arrows on Friday night. The first Major League Rugby game in New York was played on a baseball diamond, with an ocean breeze and a roller coaster as a backdrop. Its conclusion made the occasion even more memorable.
Toronto had the momentum from the kickoff. Sam Malcolm made a penalty from just inside halfway look easy, and then added a chip-shot on the 10 minute mark to make it 6-0 to the visitors.
Knowing a quick response was needed, the New York pack rolled up their socks and went to work. They won a kickable penalty but opted for the corner instead of the posts. Ross Deacon took the throw cleanly and the legs starting pumping until Dylan Fawsitt was able to fall over the line. Chris Mattina’s conversion gave the lead to the home side.
The Arrows came roaring back. An overlap was spotted on the right side but the final pass from Spencer Jones to Dan Moor was knocked out of the air by Luke Hume. Bizarrely the officials decided not to award the penalty try, and instead came back for an earlier advantage.
Next it was Morgan Mitchell who barreled over the line only to be held up. The try came at last from scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson who spotted a gap on the post and darted into the corner. Malcolm’s conversion was no good but Toronto were back in front.
New York lost more than just points on the play as Cathal Marsh was again forced off early with a groin injury. Their own riposte was deflected but the forwards again put the pressure on until a score came just seconds before halftime. Again it was from the lineout, with Nate Brakeley going high at the back and just as before the maul proved unstoppable with Fawsitt getting his second. Mattina’s kick was snagged by the wind leaving it a one-point game at the intermission.
As they had in the first half, Toronto were quickest out of the gates in the second. After stretching the defense to the left, the ball went right to Malcolm and the flyhalf popped it up out of the tackle to Guiseppe du Toit running an inside angle to slice through the line for a seven-pointer. Again the lead changed and this time Toronto did not let up.
Jones broke two tackles to push the Arrows inside the New York 22 and Ferguson switched directions, catching the defense off-guard. Gastón Mieres worked a give-and-go with Kolby Francis and the Uruguayan looked for all money to be in, but the referee ruled one of the passes was forward. Instead the Arrows were forced to settle for a penalty, with Malcolm’s boot extending the lead to nine points heading into the final quarter.
It was nearly a try just after the hydration break when Deacon rumbled in under the sticks but he was held up. Wave after wave crashed into Toronto’s defense until at last the line was breached, Brakeley just strong enough to drive over from inside a meter.
The winning points looked to be within reach for Toronto but New York instead won a scrum penalty in their end and Ben Foden sent the Arrows backwards with a massive kick to touch. Once again their first shot at the line was help up, but they would not be denied. The forwards kept knocking until the door inched open and John Quill reached out to touch down before the Arrows could get in position. Mattina’s conversion sailed over and the final whistle sounded.
After six straight weekends on the road the Arrows will have a bye before playing their final away match of the regular season against the Utah Warriors on March 30. New York will stay at home and play host to another formidable opponent, the Glendale Raptors.
SCORING
NEW YORK 24
Tries – D. Fawsitt 2 (13’, 39’), N. Brakeley (70’), J. Quill (79’)
Cons – C. Mattina 2/4 (14’, 80’)
TORONTO 21
Tries – A. Ferguson (26’), G. du Toit (46’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 1/2 (47’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 3/3 (4’, 10’, 58’)
TEAMS
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan (17 Anthony Parry 51’), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Matt Wirken 72’), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 John Quill, 7 James Denise (20 Matt Hughston 57’), 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Mike Petri (capt.) (21 Marcus Walsh 71’), 10 Cathal Marsh (23 Gavan D’Amore-Morrison 27’), 11 Luke Hume, 12 Will Leonard (22 Mike St. Claire 61’), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Ben Foden
Not used: 16 Mike Brown, 18 Callum Mackintosh
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Tom Dolezel 66’), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Steven Ng HT), 3 Morgan Mitchell (18 Cole Keith 61’), 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Jack Nay (20 Kolby Francis 47’ {19 Tom van Horne 73}), 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Riley DiNardo 66’), 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Dan Moor (capt.), 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Spencer Jones (22 Jamie Leveridge 66’), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Shawn Windsor (23 Johnny Sheridan 66’)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USAR) & Jake Still (USAR)
Attendance: 3,000
