Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Pathway 404 defeated the Gold Academy 24-12 at Gretna Park in New Orleans on Thursday Evening. The match pitted the development sides of Rugby ATL and NOLA Gold against each other though both lineups featured numerous players with Major League Rugby experience.
It was the first contest resembling a professional fixture in North America since the pandemic caused the premature end of the 2020 MLR season in March. To be expected after such a long hiatus it took some time for the players to find their feet, particularly on Gretna’s soft surface.
The first score eventually came near the half-hour mark from a tactical error. 404 were caught trying to play out of their own end, and Kurt Coleman’s miss pass seemed to catch Martini Talapusi off-guard. He bobbled the ball and Joeli Tikoisuva snatched it out of the air, offloading to Kyle Rogers for the try. Holden Yungert calmly chipped over the conversion to take full advantage of the miscue.
NOLA suffered their own lapse in decision soon after. 404’s attacking lineout was sloppy and the Gold set their defensive line. Over-aggression at the ruck, however, left the short side completely unguarded and Daemon Torres accepted the invitation with open arms.
There was time for one more score before the break. With their confidence now in the rise, 404 went through multiple phases and earned another attacking lineout. This time it worked a charm, and the driving maul walked over with Vili Helu the man in possession to take the credit. Coleman nailed the sideline conversion to make it 12-7 to the visitors at the intermission.
Whatever was said at halftime seemed to spring NOLA back into life. Not to be outdone by their opponents, Kevin O’Connor found Will Waguespack at the back of a lineout some 7 meters out. As the maul pivoted to the right, O’Connor slipped off and fell over the line for the try. Yungert seemed to lose his footing in the approach and is kick went askew to leave the scores level.
The back-and-forth between the two packs continued. NOLA held off 404’s drive but the visitors were patient and after a couple goes at the line, Maciu Koroi crossed with a little help from Alex Maughan on his shoulder. Talapusi took over the kicking duties with his first effort nearly identical to that of Yungert just minutes before.
Replacements streamed into the match and made for slow goings until late in the game. Once again it was at attacking lineout that set the stage. Carl Ratcliffe’s throw found Mike Matarazzo unchallenged at the back. The forwards were stymied and after John Scotti and then Talapusi were also repelled, it was Ratcliffe who did just enough make the line. Talapusi’s kick rang true and 404’s victory was secured.
SCORING
NOLA 12
Tries – K. Rogers (28’), K. O’Connor (43’)
Cons – H. Yungert 1/2 (29’)
ATL 24
Tries – D. Torres (35’), V. Helu (40’), M. Koroi (47’), C. Ratcliffe (76’)
Cons – K. Coleman 1/2 (40’), M. Talapusi 1/2 (77’)
TEAMS
NOLA GOLD ACADEMY
1 Brian Nault, 2 Kevin O’Connor, 3 Kevin Sullivan, 4 Conor McGill, 5 William Waguespack, 6 Andrew Guerra, 7 Devin Short, 8 Malcolm May, 9 Holden Yungert (capt.), 10 Jeff Reuther, 11 Kenneth Jinkins, 12 Kyle Rogers, 13 Joeli Tikoisuva, 14 Jack Webster, 15 Cameron Troxler
Replacements: 16 Cam Falcon, 17 Kavika Peniata, 18 James Irey, 19 Giovanni Lapp, 20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 21 Cade Austin, 22 Matt Palmer, 23 Julian Brezinsky
RUGBY ATL PATHWAY 404
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan (capt.), 3 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 4 Sam Peri, 5 Campbell Robinson, 6 Daemon Torres, 7 Vili Helu, 8 Maciu Koroi, 9 Eamonn Matthews, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Marcos Young, 12 Martini Talapusi, 13 Richard Shore, 14 Tito Bautista-Vargas, 15 Steven Krueger
Replacements: 16 Carl Ratcliffe, 17 Sam Chaney, 18 Lincoln Sii, 19 Alex MacDonald, 20 Mike Matarazzo, 21 Jason Damm, 22 Sidney Shoop, 23 John Scotti
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
