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The Dallas Jackals were issued a harsh lesson in their Major League Rugby debut on Saturday evening as the Gilgronis secured a 43-7 result at Bold Stadium. Austin’s pack dominated the scrum and set the platform for the one-sided victory.
Austin were immediately on the front foot with a turnover by Moe Abdelmonem against his former team giving Dallas a temporary reprieve. The Jackals defense held on against some sloppy attack, with Mack Mason instead settling for a penalty goal after a dominant scrum from the AGs.
An historic first came soon after as Dallas stunned their hosts with the first try of the match. Henry Trinder put a sneaky grubber in behind the defense for his center partner Campbell Johnstone to run onto. Adriaan Carelse chipped over the extra two as the Jackals took a 7-3 lead.
A reply from the home side came within seconds of the restart. Quick hands from Mack Mason and Marcel Brache found Julián Domínguez unmarked on the wing, the Argentine flyer blasted through the tackle attempt of Trinder to touch down for his first try in AG colors.
Discipline cost Dallas dearly with yellow cards to Conrado Roura and Bronson Teles contributing to a pair of Robbie Coetzee tries before the break. Both came from driving mauls with the hooker getting the credit on the scoreboard to make it 24-7 at halftime.
Both sides were guilty of conceding soft penalties early in the second half and when they finally settled down Austin’s offense began to create holes. Jake Turnbull went clean through the line and over for the bonus point try. Mason’s conversion was pushed wide right.
Continuity was rare in the final quarter as replacements streamed into the match. Austin’s pack earned a penalty try after the Dallas scrum crumbled once again. A breakout try finished off by Kyle Breytenbach and converted by Will Magie brought the match to a close.
The Jackals will have another tough assignment as they face the Legion in San Diego next Saturday. On the same day Austin stay at home to take on Old Glory DC.
SCORING
AUSTIN 43
Tries – J. Domínguez (16′), R. Coetzee 2 (24′, 39′), J. Turnbull (51′), Penalty try (63′), K. Breytenbach (80′)
Cons – M. Mason 2/3 (17′, 25′), W. Magie 2/2 (40′, 80′), No kick (63′)
Pens – M. Mason 1/1 (9′)
DALLAS 7
Tries – C. Johnstone (14′)
Cons – A. Carelse 1/1 (15′)
YC – C. Roura (20′), B. Teles (38′)
TEAMS
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Faka’osi Pifeleti 55′), 2 Robbie Coetzee (16 Mason Koch 63′), 3 Namatahi Waa (18 Mason Pedersen 53′), 4 Christian Ostberg (6 Kyle Breytenbach 76′), 5 Isaac Ross (19 Campbell Robinson 55′), 6 Kyle Breytenbach (20 Casey McDermott Vai 65′), 7 Luke Beauchamp, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Ryan Louwrens (21 Pele Cowley 55′), 10 Mack Mason (22 Will Magie 31′-HT, 60′), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.) (23 Dom Akina 60′), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Zinzan Elan-Puttick, 15 Marcel Brache
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower (17 Timmy Ohlwein 45′), 2 Todd Gleave (16 Matt Frings 64′), 3 Alex Tucci (18 Tommy Madaras 45′), 4 Mike Matarazzo (19 Sam Phillips 59′), 5 Jérémy Lenaerts, 6 Bronson Teles, 7 Moe Abdelmonem (20 Romain Gadeaux HT), 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Carlo de Nysschen (21 Tom Brusati 71′), 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Aaron Gray (23 Dylan James 68′), 12 Campbell Johnstone (22 Chad London 39′-HT), 13 Henry Trinder, 14 Eric Naposki, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.) (22 Chad London 59′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USA) & Joey Swatzell (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)
