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The Dallas Jackals celebrated their first ever victory away from home as they upset Rugby ATL 27-19 at Silverbacks Park on Saturday afternoon. It’s an historic achievement for the Jackals and a catastrophic result for ATL, who take no competition points from the match and now need help from others to have any hope of making the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Much of the first half was a tactical stalemate as neither team could unlock their opposing defense. The Jackals would have the first chance for points, but a 45-meter penalty attempt from Martín Elías skewed badly to the left of the posts.
It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that ATL would finally get an opportunity. Matt Heaton charged down a clearance attempt from Pedro Imhoff. Quick hands down the line put Seth Purdey in space, and he connected with Te Rangatira Waitokia prowling on his opposite wing. The New Zealander stepped and fended his way into the corner for the try, with Kurt Coleman adding the extras.
Dallas came straight back and went through several phases of attack until winning a penalty inside ATL territory. A kick to the corner set up a lineout drive and with the help of a couple backs Dewald Kotze went over the line for the score. The conversion from Elías was no good.
With time winding down in the half another tactical exchange put the Jackals back into striking range. They probed both ways until Elías opted to slot back into the pocket in the middle of the field. Imhoff found his flyhalf and the drop goal was through to give the visitors an 8-7 lead at the break.
Early in the second half Coleman put up a bomb from a free kick awarded at a scrum. Dallas let the ball bounce and ATL regathered. There didn’t appear to be any space in front but somehow Waitokia found a seam and swerved his away in for a double. The kick from Coleman was no good but the home side was back on top.
Both teams continued to wrestle for territory and possession. A scrum penalty went to the Jackals and they opted for a lineout. It was too far away for a push-in but the forwards hammered away at the line until Sam Golla went in under the defense to the delight of his teammates. Elías found his target off the tee and it was a three-point lead for Dallas.
The lead was stretched after ATL were deemed to have infringed at a maul. Despite being well within Elias’ range the decision was made to kick for the corner. It paid off as the Jackals forwards got the edge in the drive, and again it was Kotze who got the credit for his brace. The conversion attempt from Elías was wide right but it was now a two-score game.
There would be no comeback for ATL, who looked out of energy in the final minutes. A lack of support at the breakdown saw turnovers won by Tomás Malanos and Connor Robinson. Malanos scythed through under the posts for the final nail with three minutes to play, with a last-minute try to Martini Talapusi ultimately academic.
The Jackals can spend some extra time savoring the victory with a bye week before returning for a road match against the New York Ironworkers on Sunday, June 4. It’s straight back into the fire for ATL, who need to pull up their socks for a tough game at Utah against the Warriors next Saturday.
SCORING
ATL 19
Tries (3) – T. Waitokia 2 (31′, 45′), M. Talapusi (79′)
Cons (2) – K. Coleman 1/2 (32′), No kick (79′)
DALLAS 27
Tries (4) – D. Kotze 2 (35′, 68′), S. Golla (60′), T. Malanos (77′)
Cons (2) – M. Elías 1/3 (61′), No kick (77′)
Pens (0) – M. Elías 0/1
DG (1) – M. Elías 1/1 (40′)
TEAMS
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (17 Lincoln Si’i 61′), 2 Sidney Tobias, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (18 Will Burke 57′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Nahuel Milán 57′), 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Ross Deacon (20 Daemon Torres 61′), 9 Niall Saunders (21 Ryan Rees 59′), 10 Kurt Coleman (22 Martini Talapusi 72′), 11 Jack Shaw, 12 Seth Purdey (23 Austin White 54′), 13 Will Leonard, 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Rewita Biddle
Not used: 16 Isaac Bales
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray (16 Nicolás Revol 49′-64′), 2 Dewald Kotze (17 Connor Robinson 72′), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Kyle Steeves 77′), 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur (19 Carson Shoemaker 79′), 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen (20 Cameron Nelson 72′), 9 Pedro Imhoff (21 Danny Christensen 79′), 10 Martín Elías, 11 Marcos Moroni, 12 Juan Pablo Aguirre (22 Jason Tidwell 62′), 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Campbell Johnstone (23 Lui Sitama 58′), 15 Nazareno Valentini
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
