New York scrap to bonus point win over Toronto

Rugby United New York took a 31-24 bonus point win over the Toronto Arrows at Lupo Family Field on Saturday afternoon. It was a scrappy match that saw handling errors from both in the Georgia heat, with the visitors doing just enough to hold out the home designates in the final minutes.

Kickoff was delayed by 30 minutes as the teams waited for an ambulance to show up at the pitch. When play finally got underway it was the Arrows who struck first with a penalty goal via Will Kelly at the five minute mark.

New York’s reply came through their most consistent source of points this season. A penalty gave them an attacking lineout and the driving maul was executed to perfection with Hanco Germishuys getting the credit for the try.

The visitors were working their way back into Toronto territory when a pass slightly behind Quinn Ngawati eluded the Canadian winger. Tayler Adams was quickest to pounce on the loose ball, with a quick pass to Joaquin Tuculet for the finish. Kelly tacked on the extras to give the Arrows the lead.

Again New York went on the attack, first pushing the defense wide right. When the ball came back to the left Apenisa Cakaubalavu was freed but as he went to ground it in the corner the ball slipped from his grasp. After a brief consultation with his assistant the referee inexplicably awarded the try, a call that will certainly be cause for embarrassment in the review.

Two tries in rapid succession distanced the visitors from the controversy. Ngawati redeemed himself with a lovely offload to Ben Foden for the first, and then Benjamín Bonasso split a tiring defense and sprinted 50 meters to score under the posts.

The Arrows would get one back on the stroke of halftime. After a short period of pressure Mike Sheppard barged over despite the attention of three defenders, touching down just inside the upright to make it an automatic seven.

Germishuys got his second early in the second half as New York pulled away again. It was a similar score to the first as the lineout set the platform but this time the flanker peeled off the back for the finish. Harry Bennett’s conversion made it 31-17 to the visitors.

Successive forays into New York territory were rebuked by a scrum penalty, lineout overthrow, and a knock-on from Sam Malcolm. There was success at last for Toronto as Tuculet broke down the left side and the popped over the top for Mitch Richardson to touch down in the corner. Kelly landed the sideline conversion as the referee called for a hydration break.

The final quarter saw the Arrows threatening, and indeed nearly crossing the line but Joe Tomlinson knocked-on to miss an opportunity to score in debut. One last opportunity came as Adrian Wadden charged down a clearance attempt but the ball past the dead ball line just beyond the outstretched arms of the second row.

Next weekend will see New York playing another road game against the New England Free Jacks on Saturday. Toronto will stay in Marietta to play Old Glory DC on Sunday.

 

SCORING

TORONTO 24
Tries – J. Tuculet (16’), M. Sheppard (40’), M. Richardson (60’)
Cons – W. Kelly 2/2 (17’, 61′), No kick (40’)
Pens – W. Kelly 1/1 (5’)

NEW YORK 31
Tries – H. Germishuys 2 (10’, 45’), A. Cakaubalavu (19’), B. Foden (33’), B. Bonasso (35’)
Cons – H. Bennett 2/4 (34’, 46’), No kick (35’)

 

TEAMS

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Cole Keith 48’), 2 Jack McRogers (16 Joe Tomlinson 48’), 3 Tyler Rowland (18 Gastón Cortes 48’), 4 Adrian Wadden, 5 Mike Sheppard (19 Paul Ciulini 68’), 6 Mason Flesch (20 Ollie Nott HT), 7 Tomás de la Vega, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Jason Higgins (22 Andrew Ferguson 50’), 10 Will Kelly, 11 Johnny Sheridan (21 Kobe Faust 65’), 12 Guiseppe du Toit (capt.), 13 Mitch Richardson, 14 Joaquín Tuculet, 15 Tayler Adams (23 Sam Malcolm 36’)

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Zak Taulafo (17 Anthony Parry 53’), 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Samu Tawake (18 Kirk Hamilton 72’), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Nick Civetta (19 Charlie Hewitt 61’), 6 Benjamín Bonasso (20 Kyle Sumsion 57’), 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Evan Mintern (16 Rob Irimescu 70’), 9 Conor McManus, 10 Harry Bennett (22 Chris Mattina 61’), 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (23 Troy Lockyear HT), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati, 15 Ben Foden

Not used: 21 Connor Buckley

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Pete Chamberlain (USA)