New York fly past ATL to formally book playoff spot

It was a formality at this stage, but New York have now ticked all the boxes required for re-entry to the postseason. The defending champion Ironworkers outscored Rugby ATL five tries to three en route to a comfortable 39-24 victory at Silverbacks Park on Saturday.

The first try took barely a minute for the visitors. Brad Tucker stole a lineout and quick hands down the line to Brooklyn Hardaker saw the winger speeding away from the ATL defense. Jason Emery added the extras and it was 7-nil to the Ironworkers.

Pago Haini saw yellow for a thunderous tackle on Christopher Hilsenbeck that was deemed too high. Hilsenback would eventually slot a penalty goal to get the home side on the board, but it was cancelled out in short order by a three-pointer off the boot of Emery.

A second try came for New York as Dylan Fawsitt crashed over from a meter out after the forwards had gone through several phases. There was an immediate response from ATL as Hilsenbeck’s cross-kick landed in the bread basket of Te Rangatira Waitokia. The winger swerved around Andrew Coe and stepped on the accelerator to sprint him untouched from halfway.

Not long after the Ironworkers were in again. Teihorangi Walden connected with Coe, who in turn freed Hardaker down the line for a try. Penalties then began to mount for the Ironworkers and Brendon O’Connor was binned for repeat infringements just before halftime. Sidney Tobias crashed over for what looked like a good try, but the TMO decided that Emery had been blocked while attempting to stop the front rower and the points were scrubbed off the board.

Kara Pryor was next to earn a spot in the sin bin after collapsing a maul, temporarily leaving the Ironworkers with only 13 men on the field. ATL took full advantage and this time Tobias was not to be denied at the back of a driving maul. Celebrations were cut short however as the visitors struck back immediately when Emery cut through the middle to secure the bonus point.

With ATL now playing for pride only, the scrum earned a penalty try which brought a fourth yellow card to New York as Nic Mayhew was admonished for the collapse. A reply was again instantaneous as Pryor broke the line and spun past Kurt Coleman for the finish. Sam Windsor tacked on a penalty goal for good measure, with an 80th-minute effort just wide but ultimately academic.

ATL will close out their season on the road next Saturday against Old Glory DC. New York will look to secure home field advantage in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the Utah Warriors on Sunday.

 

SCORING

ATL 24
Tries (3) – T. Waitokia (32′), S. Tobias (47′), Penalty try (61′)
Cons (3) – C. Hilsenbeck 2/2 (33′. 48′), No kick (61′)
Pens (1) – C. Hilsenbeck 1/1 (17′)

NEW YORK 39
Tries (5) – B. Hardaker 2 (1′, 37′), D. Fawsitt (28′), J. Emery (50′), K. Pryor (62′)
Cons (4) – J. Emery 3/4 (2′ 29′, 51′), S. Windsor 1/1 (63′)
Pens (2) – J. Emery 1/1 (21′), S. Windsor 1/2 (68′)
YC (4) – P. Haini (10′), B. O’Connor (40′), K. Pryor (46′), N. Mayhew (61′)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (17 Lincoln Si’i 61′), 2 Sidney Tobias (16 Isaac Bales 74′), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (18 Will Burke 39′-40′, 54′), 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen (19 Nahuel Milán HT), 6 Vili Helu (21 Connor Cook 68′), 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Ross Deacon (20 Daemon Torres 54′), 9 Ryan Rees (22 Niall Saunders 68′), 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck (23 Kurt Coleman 54′), 11 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 12 Martini Talapusi, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Austin White

NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Tevita Langi 51′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (16 DaQuan Perry 69′), 3 Kaleb Geiger (18 Nic Mayhew 56′), 4 Charlie Hewitt (20 Kara Pryor HT), 5 Hamish Dalzell, 6 Brad Tucker (3 Kaleb Geiger 65′-71′), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Pago Haini (19 Quinn Ngawati 58′), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Conor McManus 52′), 10 Jason Emery (23 Jack Heighton 52′), 11 Teofilo Fidow, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Brooklyn Hardaker, 15 Andrew Coe (22 Sam Windsor 46′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Dave Edwards (USA) & Bryan Hall (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)