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Old Glory’s search for a first win continues as the NOLA Gold took a 31-22 win at Segra Field on Saturday. DC salvaged a four-try bonus, their first competition point of the season, but it was little consolation as the visitors scored five tries in windy conditions to pick up the bonus-point victory.
The first score went to the home side. A Mike Dabulas kick aimed at the sideline was curtailed by the wind, but the NOLA cover couldn’t read it and instead a knock-on handed an attacking scrum to DC. The ball went wide to William Talataina who bounced off three players, and Doug Fraser came within inches of the line. Api Naikatini was there to pile over from short range for the try.
A miscue at the lineout gave the visitors a chance to recover quickly. After opting for a scrum, the Gold went through several phases until winning a penalty. This time they went for the lineout, and when the drive was stalled Dino Waldren bashed over with the equalizer. Carl Meyer made good with the conversion to give NOLA a two-point lead.
The Gold put themselves under pressure with a loose pass that cost them 20 meters and possession. Old Glory dragged them right, then all the way left, then back to the right sideline. Renata Roberts-Te Nana and Dom Bailey each took out defenders before the final pass from Bailey to an open Peni Lasaqa for the try. Talataina stepped up to make the kick from a bad angle.
DC committed the cardinal sin of giving the ball straight back to NOLA on the restart. After several phases the Gold won a penalty in front of the posts. Juan Cappiello opted to go quick but the Argentine center was held up. NOLA were awarded another penalty and they did not let Old Glory off the hook. They chose a scrum, and after numerous phases Ignacio Dotti went through a half gap, with Moni Tonga’uiha following up behind to pick and drive home under the posts.
The visitors struck again early in the second half. Old Glory conceded another penalty and NOLA took field position. After attacking up the middle, they swung the ball wide left where Pat O’Toole was loitering on the wing. The hooker was too strong for Lasaqa to handle and he cut back inside for the try.
Old Glory conjured a line break for Talataina from a scrum, but the would-be scoring pass from Roberts-Te Nana to Danny Tusitala went forward. Soon after another scoring opportunity went begging. A grubber from Roberts-Te Nana sat up nicely for Lasaqa but the ball was jarred loose in the last-ditch tackle from Ross Depperschmidt.
After a period of back-and-forth with the boot, the Gold countered down the left side. When it came back to the middle Tonga’uiha was there for the line break, and O’Toole was again open on the wing, this time on the right side. The hooker showed surprising footwork to leave Tusitala grasping at air.
On the other side of the hydration break Old Glory finally got the try they were looking for. A set move from the scrum was read by the NOLA defense, but DC kept their composure and went through the phases until Junior Sa’u blasted over on an outside-in line off the edge of a ruck.
That would be as close as Old Glory would get. Half-breaks from Cam Dolan and Nick Feakes put the home side back on their heels, and Harley Wheeler’s second touch of the move saw the winger carrying two defenders over the line for the try. Damian Stevens curled the conversion through the posts.
There was enough time for one last attack from the home side. Tired bodies mixed with replacements and the gaps opened up out wide. The ball was flung to Lasaqa and the Fijian stepped his way past the defense for his double and Old Glory’s first bonus point of the season. Tusitala stepped up to attempt the conversion but it was pushed wide of the posts and the referee signaled full-time.
Both teams are on the road next weekend. NOLA head to Quincy to take on the New England Free Jacks on Saturday. It’s a Sunday game for Old Glory, as they take on Rugby New York in Hoboken.
SCORING
DC 22
Tries – A. Naikatini (5′), P. Lasaqa 2 (27′, 80’+2′), J. Sa’u (64′)
Cons – M. Dabulas 0/1, W. Talataina 1/2 (28′), D. Tusitala 0/1
NOLA 31
Tries – D. Waldren (11′), M. Tonga’uiha (35′), P. O’Toole 2 (43′, 56′), H. Wheeler (75′)
Cons – C. Meyer 1/1 (12′), No kick (35′), D. Stevens 1/3 (76′)
TEAMS
OLD GLORY DC
1 Kyle Stewart (17 Will Vakalahi 76′), 2 Rob Irimescu (16 Facundo Gattas 47′), 3 Jake Ilnicki (18 Dante Lopresti 76′), 4 Apisai Naikatini (20 Cory Daniel 50′), 5 Stan South, 6 Tevita Naqali, 7 Dom Bailey, 8 Luke Campbell (19 Fintan Coleman 67′), 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Mike Dabulas, 11 Peni Lasaqa, 12 Junior Sa’u (22 Jack Russell 76′), 13 William Talataina, 14 Doug Fraser, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana (23 Owen Sheehy 76′)
Not used: 21 John LeFevre
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan (17 Matt Harmon 53′-76′), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 George Sharpe 76′), 3 Dino Waldren (18 James Irey 72′), 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Ignacio Dotti (20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha 72′), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Maciu Koroi (19 Malcolm May 53′), 9 Damian Stevens (21 Devereaux Ferris 76′), 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Ross Depperschmidt (23 Nick Feakes 60′), 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Carl Meyer (22 JP Eloff HT)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Craig Sakowski (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
