New York grabs victory over ATL at The Snake Pit

Rugby United New York are two-from-two in Marietta after securing a 27-17 win over Rugby ATL at The Snake Pit on Sunday. The visitors claimed tactical superiority with their kicking game more accurate than their hosts, who squandered a significant first half advantage in possession.

Both sides had shots at goal following early exchanges. Dan Hollinshead was accurate for New York, but Robbie Petzer missed from straight in front as three points went begging for ATL.

A set play from a lineout yielded the first try. Hanco Germishuys went blind from the back of a maul and connected with Andy Ellis looping around. The scrumhalf broke down the right side and fed Quinn Ngawati back on the inside to sprint home. Hollinshead’s conversion put New York into double-digits.

The home side nearly responded just moments later but Bautista Ezcurra’s effort was spoiled by an obstruction call on Manasa Saulo. Instead Hollinshead picked a gap between two front rowers, sold a dummy, and scampered in for a seven-pointer under the sticks.

ATL finally got on the board shortly after the hydration break. From an attacking lineout the maul was set and Marko Janse van Rensburg broke from the back, spinning through the tackle attempt of Ellis and falling over the line for a try. Petzer found his range this time and added the extra two.

Possession went back and forth until a minute before halftime. New York won a penalty but Hollinshead couldn’t connect with the ball sailing left of the uprights. His side were still in control however with a 17-7 lead at the break.

Ezcurra missed a speculative drop goal early in the second half just ahead of an incident that saw two players sent to the bin. Marno Redelinghuys took out Andy Ellis from an offside position. Ellis reacted and the referee decided that both should cool off for 10 minutes.

Ben Foden stepped in at halfback for New York and with a little extra space on the pitch Hollinshead slipped through a gap and nearly made the line himself. ATL slowed it down as best they could but a try was inevitable and Samu Tawake squeezed in under the defense to add seven to New York’s total.

The gap became insurmountable when Hollinshead tacked on a penalty goal in the 58th minute. A frustrated Ezcurra was then shown yellow for reacting to a late hit that the referee deemed a fair challenge. The Argentine voiced his displeasure with the decision as he trudged off to the sideline.

A late burst from ATL saw them score two tries, one from Ross Deacon in close and a second from Rory van Vugt inspired by an Adriaan Carelse line break. Petzer missed both conversions, however, and the home side were left empty-handed as the clock ran out.

The Ratlers are on a short turnaround with a road game against the Austin Gilgronis next Saturday evening. New York will play their first home game of the season in New Jersey with East Conference rivals Old Glory DC taking the trip up the I95.

 

SCORING

ATL 17
Tries – M. Janse van Rensburg (22’), R. Deacon (75’), R. van Vugt (79’)
Cons – R. Petzer 1/3 (23’)
Pens – R. Petzer 0/1
Drop goals – B. Ezcurra 0/1
Yellow cards – M. Redelinghuys (45’), B. Ezcurra (59’)

NEW YORK 27
Tries – Q. Ngawati (12’), D. Hollinshead (17’), S. Tawake (48’)
Cons – D. Hollinshead 1/1 (13’), No kick 2 (17’, 48’)
Pens – D. Hollinshead 2/3 (3’, 58’)
Yellow cards – A. Ellis (45’)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (18 Will Burke 63’), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Neethling Gericke 58’), 3 Manasa Saulo (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos HT), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Daemon Torres (20 Ross Deacon 53’), 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Rowan Gouws (21 Ryan Rees 50′), 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Mark O’Keeffe, 12 Martini Talapusi (22 Jeremy Misailegalu 50’), 13 Robbie Petzer, 14 Zander van Schalkwyk (23 Adriaan Carelse 69’), 15 Rory van Vugt

Not used: 19 Vili Helu

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (16 Wilton Rebolo 46’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (17 Anthony Parry 59’), 3 Zak Taulafo (18 Samu Tawake 46’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta (19 Charlie Hewitt 59’), 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Kara Pryor (20 Rob Irimescu 76’), 9 Andy Ellis (21 Conor McManus 76’), 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (23 Luke Hume 59’), 12 Will Leonard (22 Harry Bennett 76’), 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati, 15 Ben Foden

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)