RUNY wins close contest over ATL in Marietta

Rugby United New York came away 22-19 winners over Rugby ATL at Lupo Family Field on Sunday afternoon. The visitors had pulled away by halftime but a late surge earned the home side a losing bonus point that may well pay dividends come playoff time in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

Both sides were stingy in defense and it was the bounce of the ball that finally solved the puzzle for ATL. Kurt Coleman’s chip kick eluded Ben Foden and Zander van Schalkwyk was on hand to snatch an opportunistic try. The conversion was on target and the home side took a seven-point lead.

New York didn’t take long to respond. Their lineout drive set the platform, then a set move saw Connor Wallace-Sims peeling around to hold the inside defense and open the space for Foden to attack out wide. ATL’s gap was too large and there was no second invitation required as the RUNY fullback sped away for the try. Marsh was off target with the extras but the visitors were back in the game.

A second try came only a few short minutes later. Another attacking lineout, this time on the right side, had ATL on the back foot. This time RUNY’s forwards did the work themselves, pounding away at the line until James Denise found enough space to duck in for the score. Cathal Marsh chipped over the conversion and New York were ahead by five.

ATL’s defense settled and it was the unlikely boot of Dylan Fawsitt who conjured the third RUNY try. His chip kick over the line caught the cover unawares and just as van Schalkwyk had earlier, Mark O’Keeffe pulled the ball from of the air and stepped inside Rory van Vugt for a vital score just before halftime. Marsh was on target again to make it 19-7 at the break.

Both sides looked to the bench early in the second half. ATL brought in Johan Momsen and Ross Deacon, the latter squaring off against his former team. A compromised Troy Lockyear was replaced by Quentin Pradère for RUNY, with new signing Hanco Germishuys summoned just after.

New York were put under pressure and repeat penalties landed Paddy Ryan a seat in the sin bin. At the next scrum the replacements made their mark, with Deacon tearing off the back. He was stopped short but pulled in three tacklers and Momsen was on hand to pick and drive straight through the remaining defender for the try. Two more points went up as Coleman’s kick sailed over the bar.

A long-range penalty attempt from Harry Bennett drifted wide just before RUNY returned to full strength. Some time later Wallace-Sims broke through. ATL won a turnover but they couldn’t clear their lines. Another penalty from much closer gave Marsh a chance for three points and he would make no mistake.

With time winding down Martini Talapusi, now on for Coleman, sent Sean Coughlan through a gap. Talapusi had a second go and his scoop pass nearly freed Zander van Schalkwyk but it was an inch off target, slipping through the winger’s fingertips into touch to the dismay of the partisan crowd.

van Schalkwyk would get one more say before the end. The game was lost as the clock ticked over 80 minutes but a bonus point was still on offer. RUNY’s defense repelled several attacks until Duncan van Schalkwyk picked out his brother in space, this time the pass finding its home for the try. Talapusi’s kick rang off the upright as the final whistle sounded.

Both teams will play their next matches in a week’s time. ATL welcome another heavyweight to Lupo Field as the Toronto Arrows arrive on Sunday afternoon. Later that day RUNY will play a road match against the Houston SaberCats.

SCORING

ATL 19
Tries – Z. van Schalkwyk 2 (13’, 80’), J. Momsen (52’)
Cons – K. Coleman 2/2 (14’, 53’), M. Talapusi 0/1

NEW YORK 22
Tries – B. Foden (17’), J. Denise (23’), M. O’Keeffe (38’)
Cons – C. Marsh 2/3 (24’, 39’)
Pens – H. Bennett 0/1, C. Marsh 1/1 (74’)
Yellow cards – P. Ryan (52’)

TEAMS

RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Jamie Ferrante 65’), 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Cronan Gleeson (18 Julian Montes 76’), 4 Stefan Willemse, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Jason Damm, 7 Harry Higgins (19 Johan Momsen 47’), 8 Bill Fukofuka (20 Ross Deacon 47’), 9 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 10 Kurt Coleman (22 Martini Talapusi 65’), 11 Austin White (23 Harley Wheeler 65’), 12 Ryan Nell (capt.), 13 Sean Coughlan, 14 Zander van Schalkwyk, 15 Rory van Vugt

Not used: 16 Amro Gouda, 21 Kurtis Werner

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Kirk Hamilton 62’), 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Kyle Sumsion, 7 James Denise (20 Hanco Germishuys 50’), 8 Mathieu Bastareaud, 9 Marcus Walsh (21 Mike Petri 62’), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (18 Kirk Hamilton 52’-62’), 12 Chris Mattina, 13 Troy Lockyear (23 Quentin Pradère 47’), 14 Mark O’Keeffe (22 Harry Bennett 54’), 15 Ben Foden

Not used: 16 Mike Brown, 17 Anthony Parry, 19 Rob Irimescu

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistants: Henrique Platais (Brazil) & Dave Edwards (USA)