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Rugby ATL earned a four-try 29-16 victory over NOLA at Silverbacks Park on Saturday. For 35 minutes it looked as though the Gold had finally found their groove, but from then on a litany of errors and poor discipline saw them failing to capture a single bonus point for a third consecutive week.
NOLA came flying out of the gates and within 5 minutes of kickoff they had 6 points on the board via the boot of Rodney Iona. ATL finally found a response just after the hydration break, with skipper Johan Momsen getting credit for a try from a lineout drive. Kurt Coleman slotted the extras to give the home side a slender lead.
John-Roy Jenkinson was forced off soon after, replaced by Alex Maughan. The Gold got the shove-on at the scrum, and seconds later Jordan Jackson-Hope cut back across the grain to push the visitors back in front. Iona was on target with the conversion, and added a penalty five minutes later after Maughan was sin-binned for a swinging arm at a ruck.
The Gold were on attack again when the wheels suddenly came off with two penalties conceded, the second a shoulder charge resulting in Tom Florence seeing yellow. Jason Damm powered over from close range and Coleman’s kick reduced the gap to two points. A long-range attempt from Iona on the stroke of half-time fell wide of the uprights.
Within two minutes of the restart ATL had their third try. NOLA’s defense were crossed up and smooth hands from Ben Strang and Will Leonard freed Austin White on the outside. The winger strolled into the corner and Coleman again punished the visitors with his accurate kicking.
Next it would be a penalty from Coleman as the Gold’s discipline again slipped up. A loose pass from Iona was picked off by Te Rangatira Waitokia, who sprinted clear for the bonus point try. NOLA attempted several attacks in the final quarter but each time the ended with mistakes and more frustration.
It’s a well-earned week off for ATL, who will rest up until their next home game against the San Diego Legion on Saturday, March 18. NOLA are straight back into the fire as they head home to take on the defending champion New York Ironworkers next Sunday.
SCORING
ATL 29
Tries (4) – J. Momsen (22′), J. Damm (36′), A. White (42′), T. Waitokia (59′)
Cons (3) – K. Coleman 3/4 (23′, 37′, 43′)
Pens (1) – K. Coleman 1/1 (52′)
YC (1) – A. Maughan (33′)
NOLA 16
Tries (1) – J. Jackson-Hope (27′)
Cons (1) – R. Iona 1/1 (28′)
Pens (3) – R. Iona 3/4 (1′, 4′, 32′)
YC (1) – T. Florence (36′)
TEAMS
RUGBY ATL
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos (18 Will Burke 54′), 2 Ben Strang (16 Tiaan Erasmus 54′), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (17 Alex Maughan 27′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Jordan Brown 62′), 5 Johan Momsen (capt.), 6 Vili Helu (20 Frederick Henry-Ajudua 71′), 7 Matt Heaton (21 Ross Deacon 62′), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Ryan Rees (22 Rowan Gouws 60′), 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 12 Rewita Biddle, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Austin White (23 Jack Shaw 74′), 15 Martini Talapusi
NOLA GOLD
1 Jarred Adams (17 Kevin Sullivan 64′), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Eric Howard 51′), 3 Sean Paranihi (18 James Irey 64′), 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Liam Hallam-Eames (19 Billy Stewart 60′), 6 Malcolm May (20 Maciu Koroi 60′), 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Tom Florence, 9 Luke Campbell (21 Sebastiano Villani 78′), 10 Rodney Iona (22 Aaron Matthews 67′), 11 Dougie Fife (23 Ross Depperschmidt 67′), 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Jordan Trainor
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Bryan Hall (USA) & Pete Chamberlain (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
