New York hangs on to spoil wild Toronto home opener

The New York Ironworkers did just enough to come away from Toronto with a 29-27 victory at York Lions Stadium on Saturday. While the result ultimately didn’t go their way, the Arrows showed great commitment to earn two bonus points in defeat and watched a new star emerge.

It was a fast start for the visitors as Jack Heighton knocked over a penalty goal just three minutes in. A try was up next on a set play from a lineout. Quinn Ngawati looped around Heighton and burst free, completing the two-on-one to send Teihorangi Walden in under the posts.

The Ironworkers looked odds-on to be in again soon after but a knock-on just short of the line gave the ball to Lolani Faleiva. His offload found Noel Reid, who in turned popped the ball up for Ross Braude. The scrumhalf made it over halfway before finding D’Shawn Bowen in support on his right for a 95-meter score. Sam Malcolm had no issues with the conversion.

Another looping play caught the Arrows defense at sixes-and-sevens. Walden took it at first receiver with Heighton peeling around. He found Andrew Coe with a short ball for a straight run-in, with Heighton’s extras restoring the 10-point lead.

A high tackle gave Malcolm a chance at an easy three, which he made good on. The Arrows caught a break when the TMO decided that New York had knocked-on before grounding the ball on a long break-out. Dylan Fawsitt then found himself in space, followed by Nick Feakes. After kicking to the corner, a quick throw-in to Chance Wenglewski put the prop over the line but he was held up and Toronto again escaped from danger.

The visitors gave up possession with a turnover just inside Toronto territory. A throw to Adrian Wadden at the back set up a maul infield, and then Braude came back to the short side where Bowen was waiting. The right winger stepped on the accelerator and weaved his way past five defenders to score a sensational individual try that started in his own end and finished underneath the uprights for an automatic seven.

Heighton left the field after a heavy collision with Shane O’Leary, with Sam Windsor coming on at flyhalf. The Ironworkers were undeterred and pressed straight back into Toronto’s half. Eventually the gaps appeared and Fa’asiu Fuatai crossed, with the conversion from Windsor making it 24-17 to the visitors as the two sides headed into the change rooms.

Early in the second half it was New York again on the front foot. A flat pass from Windsor found Feakes, who sold a dummy to Fabian Goodall and went in for the try. There was an immediate response, however, as the Ironworkers somehow gave away possession from a dominant scrum. O’Leary stabbed a grubber in behind and it was none other than Bowen who regathered for his hat trick.

Fuatai turned into villain with a head-high challenge on Dawson Fatoric, who had replaced Noel Reid at halftime. A yellow was brandished and then Braude took a quick tap to get in behind the defense. Faleiva bashed his way close to the line, and a shovel pass from Goodall found Lucas Rumball open for the try. Malcolm’s conversion attempt rang off the uprights and the visitors held on to a slender lead.

Both teams came close to scoring the minutes that followed. Faleiva broke from a ruck and worked a gave-and-go with Braude, with the giant prop just losing possession before the line. At the other end Ngawati charged down the left side but before he could get into the corner he was met by the Arrows defense, with Malcolm stripping the ball from his arms.

Another attempt from New York was held up, this time Ben Bonasso. The game was then paused as Malcolm was helped from the field after landing heavily in an aerial challenge with Coe, with Peter Nelson entering the game at fullback. John Powers ripped through on a counter-attack but Bonasso’s wide pass found the sideline instead of his target. Time would run out with the Arrows pinned in their own end.

Toronto will stay at home next week for another tough match-up against the Eastern Conference leading New England Free Jacks. New York stays on the road to take on Old Glory DC.

 

SCORING

TORONTO 27
Tries (4) – D. Bowen 3 (13′, 32′, 47′), L. Rumball (53′)
Cons (2) – S. Malcolm 1/3 (14′), No kick (32′)
Pens (1) – S. Malcolm 1/1 (23′)

NEW YORK 29
Tries (4) – T. Walden (9′), A. Coe (18′), F. Fuatai (39′), N. Feakes (44′)
Cons (3) – No kick (9′), J. Heighton 1/1 (19′), S. Windsor 1/2 (40′)
Pens (1) – J. Heighton 1/1 (3′)
YC (1) – F. Fuatai (50′)

 

TEAMS

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Ramón Ayarza, 2 Gene Syminton (16 Jack McRogers 73′), 3 Lolani Faleiva, 4 Mike Sheppard (19 Hank Stevenson 69′), 5 Adrian Wadden, 6 Owain Ruttan (20 Shay Kerry 46′), 7 James O’Neill, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Ross Braude (21 Will Grant 58′), 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Mitch Richardson, 12 Noel Reid (22 Dawson Fatoric HT), 13 Fabian Goodall, 14 D’Shawn Bowen, 15 Sam Malcolm (23 Peter Nelson 73′)

Not used: 17 Nik Hildebrand, 18 Marc-Antoine Ouellet

NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Anthony Parry 58′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 DaQuan Perry 73′), 3 Kaleb Geiger (18 Sam Davies 54′), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.) (19 Charlie Hewitt 73′), 5 Hamish Dalzell, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Benjamín Bonasso, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Jack Heighton (20 Sam Windsor 32′), 11 Quinn Ngawati, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai (22 Jason Emery 60′), 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Nick Feakes (23 John Powers 58′)

Not used: 21 Connor Buckley

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Michael Jones (Canada) & Peter Pender (Canada)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (Canada)