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New England’s perfect record at Veterans Memorial Stadium is no more. The Free Jacks fell 21-14 to Rugby New York on Friday evening in a match that in the end had no effect on the standings but will give the visitors great confidence heading in to their playoff match next weekend.
New York didn’t seem to be affected at all by absences in the forward pack Kaleb Geiger broke from the back of a driving maul and offloaded to Kalolo Tuiloma. The big man was stopped short, but got back in the play and a second carry took him over the line for the first try of the match.
It was another attacking lineout that set the stage for the second try. The maul was slowed but the Free Jacks were already pinned on their line, and after a hit-up from the forwards Andy Ellis found just enough space to sneak in off the corner of a ruck.
New England conjured a bit of magic to get back in the game. Wayne van der Bank cut back inside to put New York on the back foot. The ball was recycled quickly and Holden Yungert hit Jack Reeves standing first receiver. A left-footed grubber bounced up perfectly for Paula Balekana to regather and score.
Back came New York and yet again it was the lineout drive that did the business. This time there was no stopping the maul, with the backs piling in to add weight and Geiger at the bottom of the pile to take the credit. Sam Windsor knocked over his third conversion to give his team a 14-point lead.
Just before halftime van der Bank made something out of nothing. Near halfway he spotted a gap between two forwards and sped free, swerving away from the cover and floating a perfect pass for Terrell Peita charging down the left sideline for the finish. Beaudein Waaka nailed the extras from a tough angle to make it 21-14 to the visitors at the break.
Remarkably no scores at all would come in the second half. The two sides threw venom into every tackle and repeated off-the-ball scuffles began to draw the ire of the referee. Eventually he lost his patience and sent both Andy Ellis and Beaudein Waaka to the sin bin.
With time winding down New York again crossed the line through the driving maul. Before the ball could be grounded, however, van der Bank somehow emerged with possession and smashed the ball downfield. The midfielder then sparked another attack for the Free Jacks, but John Poland’s cross-kick left Mitch Wilson too close to the sideline and he was driven into touch to end the match.
The Free Jacks will have a week off to observe and prepare for the Eastern Conference Final in Quincy on June 19. New York will travel to Atlanta next Sunday with the winner to take on New England.
SCORING
NEW ENGLAND 14
Tries – P. Balekana (19′), T. Peita (39′)
Cons – B. Waaka 2/2 (20′, 40′)
YC – B. Waaka (50′)
NEW YORK 21
Tries – K. Tuiloma (4′), A. Ellis (13′), K. Geiger (25′)
Cons – S. Windsor 3/3 (5′, 14′, 26′)
YC – A. Ellis (50′), W. Rebolo (78′)
TEAMS
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Quentin Newcomer (17 Kyle Ciquera 46′), 2 Mills Sanerivi (16 Steven Hinshaw 46’), 3 Erich de Jager (18 Tevita Sole 46′-70′), 4 Javon Camp, 5 Stan van den Hoven (19 Josh Larsen 62′), 6 Cam Davidowicz, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Terrell Peita (20 Wian Conradie 62’), 9 Holden Yungert (21 John Poland 52′), 10 Beaudein Waaka (22 Le Roux Malan 60’), 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Jack Reeves (23 Harrison Boyle 52’), 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Dougie Fife
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Kaleb Geiger (16 Wilton Rebolo 56′), 3 Kalolo Tuiloma (18 Sakaria Taulafo 52′), 4 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Dylan Fawsitt, 7 Joe Basser, 8 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 9 Connor Buckley (21 Conor McManus 54’), 10 Andy Ellis, 11 Andrew Coe, 12 Sam Windsor, 13 Quinn Ngawati, 14 Waisake Naholo, 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (22 John Powers 9′-20′)
Not used: 17 Peter Reyes, 19 Victor Evans, 20 Brendon O’Connor, 23 Ishmail Shabazz
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
