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Rugby New York have earned their spot in the Eastern Conference Final with a 26-19 win over Rugby ATL on Saturday night. It was the visitors whose defense held strongest to deny their opponents any room to attack. New York will move on to face the New England Free Jacks in Quincy next Sunday.
An early break by Waisake Naholo down the right sideline had alarm bells ringing for ATL, and they grew louder when Connor Cook was dispatched to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on that disrupted the attack. Two minutes later a high shot from Alex Maughan on Charlie Hewitt sent the New York lock off for a head injury assessment as Jason Emery put three points on the board.
The Ratlers held off further advances but a long-range penalty from Emery just ahead of the hydration break gave them a 6-nil lead. It would become 9 points after a Nehe Milner-Skudder kick put ATL back on their retreat. Kurt Coleman regathered but was driven over the line to concede a 5-meter scrum. Soon after a breakdown penalty gave Emery a routine shot at goal.
Another Milner-Skudder kick rolled dead and gave ATL a scrum in New York territory. Soon after a penalty gave Kurt Coleman a chance to finally open the home side’s account. Another breakdown infringement allowed Coleman to close the gap to just three points at the intermission.
New York brought in Eagles pair Nate Brakeley and Nick Civetta at halftime and immediately put pressure on ATL from the restart. The first lineout drive didn’t quite make it, but a second was collapsed illegally and the referee awarded a penalty try. No offender could be singled out so a yellow card did not follow.
ATL worked their way into New York territory and the visitors began to rack up penalties. The referee lost his patience and sent Civetta for a 10-minute break. After several attempts to drive over with the pack were repelled, Coleman settled for a three-pointer to make it a one-score game.
A scrum penalty won just before Civetta returned helped ATL escape their own end. New York then conceded a breakdown penalty and Coleman sent over another kick from 40 meters out to make it 16-12 to the visitors with 15 minutes left on the clock.
From the restart New York regained possession and soon a penalty. The throw-in at the lineout was skewed but a scrum penalty won them a second chance. This time the drive worked as intended and Dylan Fawsitt crossed for the decisive score. Emery converted and tacked on his fourth penalty goal before a consolation try to Coleman ended proceedings.
SCORING
ATL 19
Tries – K. Coleman (80’+2′)
Cons – K. Coleman 1/1 (80’+3′)
Pens – K. Coleman 4/4 (34′, 40’+2′, 58′, 65′)
YC – C. Cook (2′)
NEW YORK 26
Tries – Penalty try (44′), D. Fawsitt (73′)
Cons – No kick (44′), J. Emery 1/1 (74′)
Pens – J. Emery 4/4 (4′, 19′, 27′, 79′)
YC – N. Civetta (50′)
TEAMS
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos 52′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Tiaan Erasmus 44′), 3 John Sullivan (18 Will Burke 52′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Evan Mintern 62′), 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Jason Damm (20 Ross Deacon 59′), 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Harley Davidson (22 Ryan Nell 59′), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Austin White, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (21 Duncan van Schalkwyk 74′)
Not used: 23 George Barton
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski (16 Nic Mayhew 48′), 2 Kaleb Geiger (18 Nate Brakeley HT), 3 Wilton Rebolo (17 Kalolo Tuiloma 44′), 4 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 5 Charlie Hewitt (19 Nick Civetta 4′-16′, HT), 6 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Dylan Fawsitt, 9 Andy Ellis (21 Conor McManus 66′), 10 Jack Heighton (22 Sam Windsor 59′), 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Waisake Naholo (23 Andrew Coe 68′), 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Not used: 20 Joe Basser
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) & Jack Gohl (Australia)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
