NOLA win battle but New York advance to playoffs

Rugby United New York are into the play-off’s. RUNY secured the last remaining place in the final four with a 35-32 loss against NOLA Gold. The narrow defeat was sufficient for New York to claim their place in the Eastern Conference Final against Rugby ATL.

NOLA Gold needed to overcome a five-point deficit in the MLR standings in addition to taking a bonus-point win while denying New York both the four-try and losing bonus points. If that was not enough, NOLA Gold also required a winning margin of 20 or more points to cover the tie-breaking criteria.

The task was Herculean; it proved to be too much to handle. New York were beaten but the three point loss is ultimately a victory as RUNY are into the Eastern Conference Final. Although, a bitterly disappointed NOLA Gold had their season ended after falling to New York the team will be kicking themselves for their loss one week earlier against the Seawolves in Seattle.

The early goings were solid for the Gold. Fullback Carl Meyer went for for an opportunistic score. The try put NOLA Gold up 7-0 after just three minutes of play.

New York scored next. A strong run from Ben Bonasso put New York into the try zone. The 15th minute score came from a 20 meter lineout. RUNY then backed it up with their second. In a powerful effort Samu Tawake charged over to give New York a 14-7 lead in the 24th minute.

NOLA Gold were not where they needed to be. Two more tries would see their season ended. They recovered to claim an equalizer. The 30th minute score was immediately responded to by Dan Hollinshead. The New York fly half made it a 17-14 New York lead.

New York were then in trouble; Kara Pryor received his second yellow card to be red carded in the 37th minute. It meant NOLA Gold would have a one-man-advantage for the entirety of the second half.

A committed New York held firm. Eagles flanker Hanco Germishuys touched down in the try zone in the 48th minute. Ten minutes later, though, NOLA were back as Argentine speedster Julián Domínguez darted over in the left corner.

It was game on; a play-off’s spot remained up for grabs. This ended in the 63rd minute. England RWC 2015 fullback Ben Foden crossed for the decisive score.

The moment that Ben Foden secured New York's MLR 2021 playoff spot 🙌

@rugbyunitedny @usmlr @ben_foden pic.twitter.com/nTz8J9MB7e

— The Rugby Network (@therugbynetwork) July 17, 2021

Foden’s try secured New York’s place in the Eastern Conference Final. The remainder of the match saw NOLA Gold on top. They scored two late tries to finish with a 35-32 win. It was too little, too late.

 

SCORING

NEW YORK 32
Tries – B. Bonasso (15’), S. Tawake (25’), H. Germishuys (48’), B. Foden (63’)
Cons – No kick 2 (15’, 63’), D. Hollinshead 1/2 (26’)
Pens – D. Hollinshead 2/3 (33’, 76’)
Yellow cards – K. Pryor (20’), A. Cakaubalavu (30’)
Red cards – K. Pryor (38’)

NOLA 35
Tries – C. Meyer (3’), P. O’Toole (31’), J. Domínguez (58’), M. Tonga’uiha (71’), J. Tikoisuva (79’)
Cons – No kick 3 (3’, 31’, 79’), T. Guillimin 2/2 (59’, 72’)
Yellow Cards – J. Cappiello (38’)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Zak Taulafo (17 James Rochford 48’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (16 Rob Irimescu 60’), 3 Samu Tawake (18 Kirk Hamilton 60’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta (19 Charlie Hewitt 60’), 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Kara Pryor (20 Evan Mintern 58’), 9 Andy Ellis (21 Conor McManus 66’), 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (22 Harry Bennett 61’), 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Joel Miranda, 15 Ben Foden (23 Keanu Andrade 66’)

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 49’), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Kevin O’Connor 66’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Brian Nault 57’), 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Billy Stewart (19 William Waguespack 50’), 6 Malcolm May (20 Giovanni Lapp 49’), 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Moni Tonga’uiha, 9 Damian Stevens (21 Holden Yungert 46’), 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Hanno Dirksen (22 Joeli Tikoisuva 49’), 15 Carl Meyer (23 Kyle Rogers 61’)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Lex Weiner (USA)