Set piece dominates scrappy Rugby ATL warm-up

Major League Rugby fans were treated to an early look at Rugby ATL’s squad for the upcoming season as the team live-streamed their intra-squad match on Saturday night. Team Silver took the spoils with a 17-7 win over Team Black in a scrappy contest dominated by the set piece.

Both sides were intent to impose their will early. Team Black would suffer two first half casualties, however, as Kurt Coleman was forced off just six minutes in and Conor Keys followed him near the midpoint of the half. Both looked to be ankle injuries.

The first try went to Pathway 404 winger Tito Bautista-Vargas, who was left open to dive over in the corner after sustained pressure from Team Silver. Bautista Ezcurra opted for the drop-kick conversion despite the difficult angle but it drifted left of the upright to leave the score 5-0.

No further scoring would come in the first half, but within two minutes of the restart Silver were in again. This time it was a traditional set piece score as Alex Maughan touched down on the back of a driving maul. Ezcurra’s kick off the tee found its mark.

A third try for Silver would come 10 minutes later. Again it was the set piece that did the damage. The Silver scrum nearly drove over a 5-meter put-in and with a penalty advantage, the ball went blind where Ezcurra found Martini Talapusi unmarked to touch down in the corner for an unconverted score.

Team Black improved in the final quarter and were rewarded with a try. Robbie Petzer, who had slotted into flyhalf when Coleman departed, scored a fine individual effort with a chip and regather following a quick tap penalty from Eamonn Matthews. Petzer converted his own to close out the scoring.

ATL will play their first preseason game against MLR opposition next Saturday when they travel to Salt Lake City for a match against the Utah Warriors.

 

SCORING

SILVER 17
Tries – T. Bautista-Vargas (22′), A. Maughan (42′), M. Talapusi (52′)
Cons – B. Ezcurra 1/3 (43′)

BLACK 7
Tries – R. Petzer (66′)
Cons – R. Petzer 1/1 (67′)

 

TEAMS

ATL SILVER
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Martini Talapusi, 13 Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 Tito Bautista-Vargas, 15 Te Rangatira Waitokia

ATL BLACK
1 Luke Schlotman, 2 Neethling Gericke, 3 Will Burke, 4 Harry Higgins, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Daemon Torres, 7 Connor Cook, 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Kurt Coleman (capt.), 11 Jalen Tatum, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Zander van Schalkwyk, 14 John Scotti, 15 Eamonn Matthews

Replacements: Amro Gouda, Lincoln Sii, Mike Matarazzo, Campbell Robinson, Maciu Koroi, Richard Shore, Sam Trammel, Gio Douyon, Tommy Wallace