Tikoisuva stars as NOLA routs New York

Three tries from winger Joeli Tikoisuva propelled NOLA Gold to a 51-28 win over Rugby United New York at The Gold Mine on Saturday. It set franchise records for largest margin of defeat for New York and also the most points conceded in Major League Rugby competition.

The game began with pace but it came at a cost. Both teams had astronomical penalty counts and three players were sent to the bin before halftime.

New York were determined to play open rugby and attacked from everywhere. The strategy was exposed in the second minute as Tikoisuva picked off a Nate Brakeley pass intended for Dylan Fawsitt. Carl Meyer kicked the extras and added a penalty soon after as the Gold took a 10-nil lead.

A response came from Ben Foden, who wrapped around the short side to score. The Gold appealed for an obstruction call as Fa’asiu Fuatai appeared to take out a defender, but it fell on deaf ears as Dan Hollinshead tacked on the conversion.

The referee had enough of NOLA’s ill-discipline and binned Tikoisuva for an offside penalty, but New York were themselves down to 14 men just a minute later. Quinn Ngawati saw yellow for a swinging-arm tackle on Julián Domínguez who was running clear for the line. A penalty try was duly awarded to the Gold.

They would soon add another score. An initial attack was held up but Cam Dolan broke from the 5-meter scrum and fended Hanco Germishuys to score on the short side. Meyer was again accurate to stretch the gap to 24-7 to the home side.

The visitors got back in the game with a well-worked try just a couple minutes later. With Tikoisuva still off the pitch New York orchestrated an overlap where the winger might have been. Fuatai sent Fawsitt around the outside and took the return pass from his captain in for five, with Hollinshead making it a full seven.

As the penalty count continued to grow a second yellow saw Moni Tonga’uiha dispatched for 10 minutes. Within seconds New York were in for their third try as Samu Tawake bashed over on debut. Hollinshead cut the gap to three, but a Meyer penalty on the stroke of halftime left the board reading 27-21 in favor of the home side as the teams headed to the change rooms.

Seemingly intent to keep throwing caution to the wind, New York’s accuracy again failed early in the second half. Tikoisuva again picked their pocket, this time snaring a wild pass from Ngawati. No conversion was required with the ball touched down under the posts.

There was temporary respite for New York as replacement flanker Benjamín Bonasso touched down for a seven-pointer just seconds after entering the match. It was an offload from Will Leonard that put him in behind the line with the cover defense caught out at sea.

Tikoisuva punished yet another errant pass, this time kicking ahead for Damian Stevens to touch down. A foot injury for Meyer left Stevens to do the kicking honors. It was Stevens who then created the third try for Tikoisuva, the winger this time on the and of a creative attacking move.

That sixth NOLA try would be the last of the game and came with Nikola Bursic off the pitch for another indiscretion. Stevens would add a penalty and the Gold would play the final eight minutes down a man as both Meyer and Robbie Coleman were forced off with injuries.

Both teams will enjoy bye weeks before returning to action in Week 4. NOLA will stay at home to host the Austin Gilgronis on April 10. New York stay on the road and face another East Conference rival in Rugby ATL on April 11.

 

SCORING

NOLA 51
Tries – J. Tikoisuva 3 (2’, 45’, 58’), Penalty try (17’), C. Dolan (21’), D. Stevens (51’)
Cons – C. Meyer 2/2 (3’, 22’) No kick (46’), D. Stevens 2/2 (52’, 59’)
Pens – C. Meyer 2/2 (7’, 40’), D. Stevens 1/1 (69’)
Yellow cards – J. Tikoisuva (16′), M. Tonga’uiha (32’), N. Bursic (55’)

NEW YORK 28
Tries – B. Foden (13’), F. Fuatai (24’), S. Tawake (32’), B. Bonasso (48’)
Cons – D. Hollinshead 3/3 (14’, 25’, 33’), No kick (48’)
Yellow cards – Q. Ngawati (17’)

 

TEAMS

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 50’), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Eric Howard 50’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Brian Nault 59’), 4 Kyle Baillie (capt.) (21 Devin Short 63’), 5 Ignacio Dotti (19 Billy Stewart 50’), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (20 Nikola Bursic 52′), 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert (22 Damian Stevens 47’), 10 Robbie Coleman (23 Timothée Guillimin 72’), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Joeli Tikoisuva, 15 Carl Meyer

Note: 15 Carl Meyer left the game at 72’ with no replacements available

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 57’), Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (16 Rob Irimescu 74′), 3 Samu Tawake (18 Wilton Rebolo 47’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Charlie Hewitt (19 Benjamín Bonasso 47’), 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Andy Ellis (20 Connor Buckley 74’), 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (23 Conor McManus 59’), 12 Will Leonard (21 Harry Bennett 52′), 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati (22 Chris Mattina 52′), 15 Ben Foden

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)