Malcolm boots Arrows to road win over Gold

Sam Malcolm kicked 14 points including a late penalty goal to lead Toronto to a nervous 24-23 road win over NOLA Gold on Saturday afternoon. The Arrows took their first win of the season in dramatic fashion while the Gold slip to 0-3 with discipline proving to be their Achilles heel.

It was appropriately Kyle Baillie, the former NOLA captain, who touched down first for the Arrows. Brock Webster popped up on his opposite wing to break through on a 50-meter run. A desperation tackle stopped him just short, but the ball was recycled quickly and spun wide left to an open Baillie for the finish. Malcolm’s first kick of the season was a successful conversion from the sideline.

The Gold responded with a penalty kick from Carl Meyer. He would have a chance to add another three points moments later after his forwards won a scrum penalty, but this time the NOLA fullback narrowly missed the left upright.

Possession returned to the Gold, however, and when Toronto conceded a penalty at halfway they opted to kick for a lineout. A short throw at the front to Billy Stewart caught the Arrows by surprise and Damian Stevens was there to break through, finishing the two-on-one to send Eric Howard into the corner and give the home side their first lead of the game.

Webster slipped out of two tackles to spark a counter-attack that nearly went end-to-end for the Arrows, but Andrew Quattrin was stopped just short of the line. JP du Plessis was quickest to the breakdown to win a vital turnover and snuff out the advance.

Malcolm May was shown yellow for holding back Lucas Rumball off the ball with the Arrows on attack. The shorthanded scrum conceded back-to-back penalties and with MLR adopting law variations, the Arrows settled for a Sam Malcolm penalty to regain the lead.

du Plessis filled in at flanker to stabilise the next NOLA put-in, and Meyer burst upfield. The attack come to nothing and at the other end the Arrows looked to have scored from a lineout drive, but the TMO ruled that Mike Sheppard was in front of Rumball and the try was wiped off the board.

Ross Braude’s 50-22 put the Arrows back on NOLA’s doorstep. May was back on the pitch but again the Toronto scrum exerted its dominance, and despite a warning to Matt Harmon for repeat collapses they were denied another chance to scrum. After opting for the lineout they went through several phases but the NOLA defense held and a knock-on brought on the halftime whistle.

Rumball won a turnover early in the second half to stop the initial NOLA attack, but the pressure stayed on and Robbie Coleman stormed through a gap. Harmon was in support and the prop then found Meyer close behind to finish off a cracking score from the home side.

Toronto roared back immediately and a second yellow card was brandished to the Gold when Dino Waldren was called for offside. The Arrows pressed and went over the line but they were held up and the home side would clear their lines.

The back-and-forth continued as Meyer ripped through a tackle and put Nick Feakes, who had only just come onto the pitch, sped down the left sideline. Gastón Mieres came across to make the tackle but a TMO review determined the ball was grounded before Feakes was pushed into touch. Meyer’s conversion attempt rang off the upright.

Malcolm and Meyer exchanged penalties before the Arrows would finally get a second try. NOLA pushed early at a scrum and Braude went quick, connecting with Malcolm. Spencer Jones was the middle-man with a flat ball to a streaking Webster for a runaway try on debut.

Rumball won another breakdown but Toronto gave the ball away and Feakes fired back with a 50-22. Again Toronto got out of their end and a late hit on Malcolm by Maciu Koroi gave the flyhalf a chance to take three, which he duly accepted.

A fourth penalty goal from Malcolm nudged the Arrows ahead with four minutes to play. NOLA would have one final chance to come back but they would turn over possession and Jones smashed the ball into touch to end the game.

It’s a bye week for the Gold, who will reflect on a frustrating start to their campaign before returning to play their first road game of the season against Seattle on March 4. The Arrows are straight back into action next Saturday with another Eastern Conference clash against Old Glory at Segra Field.

 

SCORING

NOLA 23
Tries – E. Howard (14′), C. Meyer (46′), N. Feakes (55′)
Cons – C. Meyer 0/2, No kick (46′)
Pens – C. Meyer 2/3 (7′, 62′)
YC – M. May (23′), D. Waldren (50′)

TORONTO 24
Tries – K. Baillie (4′), B. Webster (64′)
Cons – S. Malcolm 1/2 (5′)
Pens – S. Malcolm 4/4 (26′, 59′, 70′, 76′)

 

TEAMS

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 59′), 2 Eric Howard (16 Pat O’Toole 50′), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Brian Nault 60′), 4 Malcolm May (19 William Waguespack 56′), 5 Billy Stewart (20 Moni Tonga’uiha 47′), 6 Maciu Koroi (18 Brian Nault 50′-60′), 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens (21 Devereaux Ferris 59′), 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Kyle Rogers (23 Nick Feakes 52′), 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello (22 JP Eloff 66′), 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Carl Meyer

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Cole Keith (17 Lolani Faleiva 56′), 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Isaac Salmon (18 Tyler Rowland 50′), 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Paul Ciulini (19 Adrian Wadden 70′), 6 Kyle Baillie (20 Mason Flesch 56′), 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tomás de la Vega, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Brock Webster, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Mitch Richardson (22 Ueta Tufuga 56′), 14 Matthew Hood, 15 Gastón Mieres

Not used: 16 Jack McRogers, 21 Chris Bell, 23 Will Kelly

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & De Wet Roos (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)