ATL shut down New York for bonus point win

Rugby ATL took a major step towards playoff qualification with a 38-3 win over Rugby New York at JFK Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Stifling defense from the Ratlers combined with stifling heat to shut down the home side despite New York holding a clear advantage in territory.

The first try came from a loose pass from Andrew Coe that bounced into the hands of Te Rangatira Waitokia. He quickly offloaded to Ryan Rees who sped away untouched to score. Kurt Coleman had no trouble landing the conversion.

New York pressed back and a Will Tucker put Ed Fidow into the corner, but the TMO ruled he was in touch before the grounding and the referee came back for advantage. Another advance ended with New York over the line but this time they were held up to concede a goal line drop-out.

Tucker found himself in big trouble with the officials. A clothesline off the ball took out Daemon Torres, and then he landed a shoulder charge on Rees who had gone quick at a penalty. The TMO review decided the second incident was worthy of a red card and Tucker’s day was over at the 16-minute mark.

Within two minutes Daemon Torres had crossed on the end of an ATL attack. Coleman converted and things got worse for New York. Nick Civetta went off for an HIA, and the second row would not return with Charlie Hewitt his replacement.

A positive finally came for the home side when Jack Heighton knocked over a penalty goal, and the two sides fiercely contested possession. High tensions led to a caution from the referee to both sides for backchat. Heighton uncharacteristically missed a second shot at goal well within his range.

The Ratlers scored a third try via Alex Maughan, who went over on the end of more phase play just as Kaleb Geiger entered the game as Tucker’s replacement. Coleman’s kick was rejected by the upright.

Nehe Milner-Skudder had hardly touched the ball but just before halftime made an impression with a huge kick downfield to win an attacking lineout. New York pressed and Brendon O’Connor looked to be through a gap but the flanker couldn’t hang on the ball and the opportunity was lost.

Replacements began to enter the game and then ATL secured their bonus point. More phase play sucked in the New York defense and Austin White was left wide open out wide to receive the scoring pass from Duncan van Schalkwyk. Joaquín de la Vega Mendía took over the kicking duties and made good on the kick from the right sideline.

Johan Momsen powered over for a fifth ATL try late in the game and Coleman, now back on the pitch, was on target with the extras. The sixth try and final action of the game saw Vili Helu coasting through tired defense with time expired.

ATL now hold a seven-point advantage on Toronto and can clinch a spot in the postseason if they defeat the Arrows at Silverbacks park next Saturday. New York can punch their ticket to the playoffs if they win on the road against Old Glory DC on Sunday.

 

SCORING

NEW YORK 3
Pens – J. Heighton 1/2 (22′)
RC – W. Tucker (16′)

ATL 38
Tries – R. Rees (7′), D. Torres (18′), A. Maughan (36′), A. White (55′), J. Momsen (74′), V. Helu (80′)
Cons – K. Coleman 3/4 (8′, 19′, 75′), J. de la Vega Mendía 1/1 (56′), D. van Schalkwyk 0/1
YC – W. Burke (61′)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Nic Mayhew (18 Wilton Rebolo 56′ {3 Sakaria Taulafo 73}), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (20 Joe Basser 53′), 3 Sakaria Taulafo (17 Chance Wenglewski 44′), 4 Nick Civetta (19 Charlie Hewitt 19′), 5 Will Tucker (16 Kaleb Geiger 36′), 6 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 9 Connor Buckley (21 Conor McManus 44′), 10 Jack Heighton (22 Sam Windsor 53′), 11 Ed Fidow (23 John Powers 64′), 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (17 Will Burke 50′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Tiaan Erasmus 61′), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (18 John Sullivan 50′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Evan Mintern 64′), 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook (20 Vili Helu 66′), 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Daemon Torres (1 Alex Maughan 61′-71′), 9 Ryan Rees (21 Rowan Gouws 69′), 10 Kurt Coleman (22 Duncan van Schalkwyk 51′-60′), 11 Austin White, 12 George Barton (23 Ryan Nell 49′), 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Cole Davis, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (22 Duncan van Schalkwyk 60′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Henrique Platais (Brazil)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)