Another draw for Toronto leaves DC disappointed

It’s back-to-back draws for the Toronto Arrows as they fought Old Glory to a 29-all stalemate at York Lions Stadium on Thursday. A late try from D’Shawn Bowen evened things up and left DC disappointed after missing out on two competition points that could prove vital in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The match did not start well for Bowen and the Arrows. A knock-on from the kickoff immediately handed over possession to the visitors. After several phases Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz blasted over with Gradyn Bowd adding the extras to make it 7-nil as spectators were still finding their seats.

Toronto regained their composure and earned a kickable penalty but Shane O’Leary’s attempt at the uprights was off-target. DC cleared temporary but a Lolani Faleiva line break put the Arrows back on the front foot. Eventually the defense was worn down and straight hands found Travis Larsen on the edge, the No8 sending Ciaran Breen around the corner for the try.

Within seconds DC were back out in front. Bowen was again picked on with the restart and this time the winger made a grave error. After knocking on he left the ball behind him and all Peni Lasaqa had to do was pick it up and run straight down the touchline to score.

Disaster then hit the Arrows as three starters left the pitch with injury. Faleiva was gone at the hydration break, replaced by Connor Grindal, and then Mitch Richardson was helped off in considerable discomfort. Liam Bowman come into the midfield to make his debut. Shortly after Adrian Wadden walked off dazed and would not return from his head injury assessment, with Hank Stevenson coming in at lock.

As the clock ticked towards halftime Toronto moved into DC territory. Ross Braude spotted a meekly-guarded post at the ruck and slipped through, stepping and carrying two defenders over the line with him en route to a terrific solo effort. O’Leary’s conversion put the Arrows ahead by two at the break.

Early in the second half it was the home side who controlled possession. After a series of phases Tyler Rowland barged ahead but was stopped barely an inch short of the line. With advantage yielding a penalty in front of the sticks, O’Leary slotted the three points on offer to stretch the lead to five.

Another mistake at the restart coughed up the ball to DC and soon the referee brandished a yellow card to James O’Neill for repeat team infringements. Seconds later the Arrows scrum crumbled and Tito Díaz Bonilla attacked the short side, slipping through Peter Nelson’s fingers to to make it all even at 17-apiece.

The two sides would go back-and-forth with tries in the final quarter. An overthrow at the lineout cost the Arrows as quick hands put Lasaqa in space on the right side. The winger was tackled but Marcos Young was there in support to pick and dive into the corner. Toronto fired back when Bowman somehow escaped the grasp of Thretton Palamo and William Talataina to touch down.

With both teams visibly tiring DC went on a long sequence of attack that made incremental progress. At last a gap opened in the middle of the field and Talataina passed back inside to a streaking John LeFevre for the runaway score.

There was time enough for Toronto to reply, however, and Bowen crossed with just seconds left after a pass from Tautalatasi Tasi bounced off a DC player into the Arrows winger’s hands. Nelson’s attempt at the posts with time expired was pushed to the left of the uprights.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, May 27. The Arrows will play their final road game of the season at Fort Quincy against the New England Free Jacks. Old Glory return home to face the Seattle Seawolves.

 

SCORING

TORONTO 29
Tries (4) – C. Breen (17′), R. Braude (40’+1′), L. Bowman (70′), D. Bowen (79′)
Cons (3) – S. O’Leary 2/2 (18′, 40’+1′), P. Nelson 1/2 (71′)
Pens (1) – S. O’Leary 1/2 (49′)
YC (1) – J. O’Neill (53′)

DC 29
Tries (5) – J. Fa’anana-Schultz (2′), P. Lasaqa (18′), J. Díaz Bonilla (54′), M. Young (65′), J. LeFevre (75′)
Cons (2) – G. Bowd 1/3 (3′), J. Díaz Bonilla 0/1, No kick (75′)

 

TEAMS

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Lolani Faleiva (17 Connor Grindal 19′), 2 Tyler Wong (16 Ramón Ayarza 61′), 3 Tyler Rowland (18 Conan O’Donnell 67′), 4 Mason Flesch, 5 Adrian Wadden (19 Hank Stevenson 32′), 6 Owain Ruttan (20 Lucas Rumball 53′), 7 James O’Neill, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Ross Braude (capt.) (21 Will Grant 58′), 10 Peter Nelson, 11 D’Shawn Bowen, 12 Mitch Richardson (22 Liam Bowman 25′), 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Ciaran Breen, 15 Shane O’Leary (23 Kobe Faust 49′)

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon (16 Facundo Gattas 66′), 3 Kyle Stewart (17 Quentin Newcomer 71′), 4 Collin Grosse (19 Alejo Daireaux 55′), 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Niko Jones, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.) (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 66′), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Junior Sa’u (23 Marcos Young 49′ {21 John LeFevre 69′}), 12 Thretton Palamo, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Owen Sheehy (22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 45′)

Not used: 18 Ramiro Herrera

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Peter Pender (Canada) & Clint Lemkus (Canada)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)