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A remarkable second half saw Rugby United New York come back from a 31-7 halftime deficit to fall just short, losing 38-31 to the Seattle Seawolves at MCU Park on Saturday. The New York faithful could have been forgiven for eyeing an early exit but were treated to a thrilling finale in a wild encounter.
After a short period of feeling each other out, the Seawolves exploded with three tries in a span of five minutes. Mat Turner was too quick for the defense, slipping through for the first. The second was a smart line from Riekert Hattingh with arm just long enough to reach out and make the line. Turner made it three with a long-range solo run off a counter-attack.
New York finally got on the board with a bit of muscle and perhaps some fortune. As Roland Suniula left the field groggily, Paddy Ryan took a quick tap on a 5-meter penalty and barged into the defense. He looked to be held up just short but somehow managed to place the ball on the line for a much-needed seven pointer.
Seattle pounced first with a Brock Staller penalty just a minute out, then a try from JP Smith just seconds later. Brad Tucker made a half break and then Shalom Suniula scythed through the line, finding Smith on his left to finish the simple two-on-one.
The desperation showed on New York early in the second half. Cathal Marsh picked out Will Leonard with a perfectly-weighted cross kick for a quick try. Another came moments later as Connor Wallace-Sims came foraging from his left wing spot all the way to the right side to curl around and make the corner.
Phil Mack went in under the posts after George Barton and Shalom Suniula combined in the midfield to break through. That looked to have iced the game but two late tries from Dylan Fawsitt made things interesting, one from a maul and a second on a loop around the outside of Luke Hume.
With two bonus points now secured New York came looking for the tying score. Marsh’s kick was charged down but the bounce favored New York and Leonard hacked it ahead. The ball kicked off the turf into the hands of a trailing Marsh and the flyhalf was stopped just short. As the ball was recycled a knock-on spoiled the attack and New York ran out of time.
The Seawolves move back into third place and face another tough road match next Saturday as they take on Glendale at Infinity Park. On Sunday it’s a home match for New York as they host the winless Austin Elite with a bonus point win required to stay in the playoff race.
SCORING
NEW YORK 31
Tries – P. Ryan (27’), W. Leonard (47’), C. Wallace-Sims (51’), D. Fawsitt 2 (72’, 75’)
Cons – C. Marsh 3/5 (28’, 48’, 52’)
SEATTLE 38
Tries – M. Turner 2 (12’, 17’), R. Hattingh (16’), J. Smith (40’), P. Mack (65’)
Cons – B. Staller 5/5 (13’, 17’, 18’, 40’, 66’)
Pens – B. Staller 1/1 (39’)
TEAMS
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 52’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Sullivan HT {1 James Rochford 67’}), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Alex MacDonald 52’), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Matt Hughston (20 Kyle Sumsion 67’), 7 John Quill, 8 Sean McNulty (16 Callum Mackintosh 61’), 9 Mike Petri (capt.) (21 Marcus Walsh 67’), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (23 Luke Hume 67’), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Mike St. Claire, 15 Ben Foden
Not used: 22 Harry Bennett
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (18 Ryan Youngman 77’), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 61’), 3 Tim Metcher (17 Kellen Gordon 52’), 4 Api Naikatini (20 Eric Duechle 57’), 5 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Samu Manoa 57’), 6 Brad Tucker (23 Dion Crowder 67’-73’), 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 JP Smith (21 Phil Mack 61’), 10 Ben Cima, 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs (23 Dion Crowder 73’), 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 Roland Suniula (22 George Barton 27’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USAR) & Jake Still (USAR)
