Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
A Toronto Arrows XV cruised to a 57-10 win over the Atlantic Selects at the new-look York Lions Stadium on Saturday evening. Dubbed the ‘Rugby Rally’, the match marked the return of the Arrows to Toronto for the first time since the 2019 Major League Rugby season, an absence of 867 days.
The Arrows lineup was a mix of senior MLR players, academy members, and local trialists, with the Selects comprised of club players from New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Also featuring was Arrows draft pick Sam Mace.
A slow first half for the hosts saw the halftime score reading 14-3 for the Arrows. Standout midfielders Andrew Norton and Mitch Richardson would score one try apiece, both converted by Will Kelly. Johnny Cullen kicked one penalty goal for the visitors from two attempts.
The second half saw the Arrows stretching their legs with seven players touching down. Norton and Richardson each grabbed a double with singles to international trio Mason Flesch, Rob Brouwer, and Siaki Vikilani, and invitational pair Brandan Ferguson and Liam McLaughlin. Kelly added four more conversions.
Ollie Nott conceded a yellow card in the second half and the Selects would score a late try. Liam Carter, who has previously played for an Arrows XV, took a quick tap from a free kick to dive in from close range. The conversion came via the left boot of Tom Jarman.
SCORING
ARROWS 57
Tries – A. Norton 2, M. Richardson 2, B. Ferguson, M. Flesch, R. Brouwer, S. Vikilani, L. McLaughlin
Cons – W. Kelly 6/9
YC – O. Nott
SELECTS 10
Tries – L. Carter
Cons – T. Jarman 1/1
Pens – J. Cullen 1/2
TEAMS
TORONTO ARROWS XV
1 Rob Brouwer, 2 Jack McRogers, 3 Marc-Antoine Ouellet, 4 Hank Stevenson, 5 Ben Jones, 6 Ollie Nott, 7 Marcello Wainwright, 8 Matt Fish, 9 Andrew Ferguson (capt.), 10 Will Kelly, 11 Brandan Ferguson, 12 Andrew Norton, 13 Mitch Richardson, 14 Johnny Sheridan, 15 Mitch Voralek
Replacements: 16 Sam Mace, 17 Julian Alexander, 18 Darby Bradley, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Cole Brown, 22 Liam McLaughlin, 23 Mitch King
ATLANTIC SELECTS
1 Alex Forrest (capt.), 2 Sean Doyle, 3 Phil Lanthier, 4 Nigel Bannister, 5 Jordan Montgomery, 6 Seif Sanad, 7 Sheldon Cudmore, 8 Liam Carter, 9 Johnny Cullen, 10 Lucas Shortall, 11 Dexten Fox, 12 Tom Jarman, 13 Jesse McKay, 14 James Duguid, 15 James Mitchell
Replacements: 16 Mike McEachern, 17 Eddie Mahar, 18 David Mallard, 19 Pat Davis, 20 Brandon Power, 21 Barnaby Dunscombe, 22 Cameron Pope, 23 Sam Newhook
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Pender (Canada)
Attendance: 1,600
