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Rugby ATL did just enough to defeat Rugby United New York by 10-9 in an arm-wrestling match at Lupo Family Field on Saturday night. In doing so the Ratlers claim the Eastern Conference title and book their place in next week’s grand finale.
Bautista Ezcurra had the first chance for points but sent an early penalty attempt wide. ATL kept the pressure on and earned a second scoring opportunity via the scrum. This time Ezcurra made no mistake to put the home side on the scoreboard first.
The humid conditions made for difficult handling and neither side was intent to take chances. It was a mistake from ATL that handed New York their first chance at points, a kick ahead slipping from the kick cover’s grasp. Harry Bennett landed the first three and added a second from long range just two minutes later after being taken out late by Rowan Gouws.
ATL came steaming out of the sheds and New York found themselves pinned on their own goal line. Repeat infringements saw James Rochford sent to the bin after only just taking the field as a replacement. He would soon find the company of ATL prop Chance Wenglewski in the sin bin for a stamp on Nick Civetta in a maul.
Poor decisions were creeping into both teams with a late hit on Ezcurra giving the Argentine another shot at goal. He struck it well but it drifted over the post and the flags stayed down. At the other end Bennett chipped over an easy three after an offside penalty against the ATL defense.
Quinn Ngawati was the next to play villain, his late and high challenge on Ryan Nell earning him ten minutes on the sidelines. The Ratlers piled into the New York defense time and again until finally a crack emerged and Alex Maughan grounded the ball for the first try of the game. Kurt Coleman’s conversion rang true to take a one-point lead.
One last sequence appropriately ended with a handling error that gave possession back to ATL, who promptly cleared to touch to end the game. The venue for next week’s Championship Final will now be determined by the result of Sunday’s Western Conference Final between LA and Utah.
SCORING
ATL 10
Tries – A. Maughan (75′)
Cons – K. Coleman 1/1 (76′)
Pens – B. Ezcurra 1/3 (9′)
Yellow cards – C. Wenglewski (49′)
NEW YORK 9
Pens – H. Bennett 3/3 (34′, 36′, 61′)
Yellow cards – J. Rochford (47′), Q. Ngawati (68′)
TEAMS
RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Alex Maughan 64′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Neethling Gericke 57′), 3 Wikus Groenewald (18 Manasa Saulo 53′), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook (20 Vili Helu 57′), 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Ross Deacon (17 Alex Maughan 53′-59′) (19 Conor Keys 69′), 9 Rowan Gouws (22 Ryan Rees 58′), 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia (21 Daemon Torres 77′), 12 Robbie Petzer (23 Kurt Coleman 57′), 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Austin White
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Zak Taulafo (17 James Rochford 45′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (16 Rob Irimescu 76′), 3 Samu Tawake (18 Kirk Hamilton 76′), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta (19 Charlie Hewitt 59′), 6 Evan Mintern, 7 Benjamín Bonasso (20 Kyle Sumsion 59′), 8 Hanco Germishuys, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Harry Bennett (21 Conor McManus 72′), 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (22 Chris Mattina 59′ {23 Joel Miranda 72}), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati (1 Zak Taulafo 53′-57′), 15 Ben Foden
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Mike Lash (New Zealand) & Mike O’Brien (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Attendance: 1,792
