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Old Glory DC were no match for Rugby United New York as the visitors cruised to a 46-10 victory at Segra Field on Sunday afternoon. As with their first clash earlier this season it was a feisty affair, but on this occasion there was no question who were the dominant side.
Late changes on Saturday evening deprived the home side of starting prop Jamie Dever and backup hooker Max Lum. They were already absent co-captain Mungo Mason and Eagles pair Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz and Thretton Palamo, their opponents missing Nick Civetta and Dan Hollinshead.
New York showed no sympathy for their hosts. With just three minutes elapsed a maul was driven in from 25 meters out, with Dylan Fawsitt getting the credit. Chris Mattina sliced his conversion attempt but the DC pack was already demoralised.
A bit of fortune created the second try. Ben Foden’s grubber attempt ricocheted off Mike Dabulas, and then Danny Tusitala slipped on the turf attempting to regather. Fa’asiu Fuatai snatched up the loose ball and finished a simple two-on-one to put Apenisa Cakaubalavu away for a clean run-in from 35 meters out.
The bonus point was wrapped up before the hydration break. Footwork from Quinn Ngawati and Fuatai opened the door for Cakaubalavu, the winger offloading to Nate Brakeley for the try. Foden was next to touch down as he burst onto a short pass from Andy Ellis on a simple wrap-around.
Tempers flared in a scuffle between flankers Callum Gibbins and Benjamín Bonasso, and then Ellis was fortunate to escape a card for tackling Jason Robertson without retreating 10 meters on a penalty. Old Glory finally got on the board when Steven Longwell crashed over but Robertson’s conversion attempt was askew.
The referee lost his patience soon after and dispatched both Kara Pryor and Harry Bennett to the bin in quick succession for reckless fouls. With a two-man overlap Renata Roberts-Te Nana scored in the corner but DC could not capitalise again on the numerical advantage.
Instead Mattina sent over a penalty goal and Cakaubalavu dropped a pass for a certain try. There was supreme embarrassment for Tevita Naqali, who was caught from behind by Foden while nonchalantly placing the ball for what would have been a third DC try on the stroke of halftime.
Pryor redeemed himself after returning to the pitch early in the second half. A quick thrown-in from Ellis caught the defense unawares and the flying eightman swerved around four would-be tacklers to touch the ball down. Mattina’s conversion made it 34-10 for New York.
Replacements streamed into the match and it would be 25 minutes before another score. Ellis, now playing flyhalf, chipped over the line for Mattina to regather. He popped off the deck to a charging Will Leonard for the sixth try.
There was time for one more spectacular effort from New York. Ellis ran free from his own in-goal, finding Pryor support at the 10-meter line. Conor McManus provided the connecting pass and it was a 30-meter jog for Mattina, the final whistle mercifully sounding soon after.
It’s a road game for Old Glory next weekend as they face the New England Free Jacks in Weymouth on Sunday evening. New York enjoy a bye week before before returning to action at home against Rugby ATL on Sunday, June 13.
SCORING
DC 10
Tries – S. Longwell (27’), R. Roberts-Te Nana (32’)
Cons – J. Robertson 0/2
NEW YORK 46
Tries – D. Fawsitt (3′), A. Cakaubalavu (7′), N. Brakeley (12’), B. Foden (20’), K. Pryor (45’), W. Leonard (71’), C. Mattina (79’)
Cons – C. Mattina 3/6 (21’, 46’, 72’), No kick (7′)
Pens – C. Mattina 1/1 (37’)
Yellow cards – K. Pryor (30’), H. Bennett (31’)
TEAMS
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro (18 Dante Lopresti 58′), 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai (16 James King 74’), 3 Steven Longwell (17 Jack Carroll 65’), 4 Api Naikatini (19 Casey Renaud 65’), 5 Stan South, 6 Tevita Naqali, 7 Callum Gibbins (capt.), 8 Josh Brown (20 Cory Daniel 49’), 9 Danny Tusitala (21 Danny Thomas 65’), 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Ciaran Hearn (22 D’Montae Noble 77’), 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Mike Dabulas (23 Sam Cusano 68′), 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (16 Wilton Rebolo 52’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (17 Anthony Parry 74’), 3 Zak Taulafo (18 Samu Tawake 52’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Evan Mintern (19 Charlie Hewitt 72′), 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Benjamín Bonasso (20 Rob Irimescu 74’), 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Harry Bennett (21 Conor McManus 54′), 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (23 Joel Miranda 65’), 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai (22 Will Leonard HT), 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Ben Foden
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USA) & Gavin McCandless (USA)
