NOLA hang on for scrappy victory over Dallas

The NOLA Gold did just enough to hang on for a 15-10 victory over the Dallas Jackals at Choctaw Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Played in stifling heat, the conditions made for a largely stop-start affair with both teams struggling to build any continuity. Their frustration boiled over in off-the-ball scuffles that left the referee exasperated at times.

Dallas had the edge in the opening quarter with Alejandro Torres handed two shots at goal. He landed the first from 35 meters in front of the posts but then missed the second just a couple minutes later from a nearly identical spot on the field.

NOLA got on the board after the first hydration break. A penalty gave them field position and after several phases on attack, Aaron Matthews cut back across the grain and reached out of the tackle to score the first try. Damian Stevens pushed the conversion across the face of the posts, but he would chip over a penalty goal to give the Gold an 8-3 lead.

Discipline was increasingly becoming an issue for Dallas and finally the referee had enough, sending captain Jerónimo Gómez Vara to the bin for a cynical penalty with NOLA on attack. From the ensuing set piece the Gold backline ran a training ground move that didn’t come off, but Maciu Koroi was on hand to pick up the loose ball and stroll over untouched to leave it 15-3 to the visitors at halftime.

No further points would come to the Gold while Gómez Vara was off the pitch, and he returned just in time for an attacking throw-in for his own side. The backs joined in once the drive was on and Tomás Baravalle was on the end of the train to fall over the line with Torres adding the extras.

There was little action worth describing in the final half-hour. Replacements streamed into the match with further disrupted the action. Dallas pressed for a score on several occasions during the last quarter but each time mistakes foiled their plans at the final minute and it was muted celebrations for the Gold when the final whistle sounded.

Both teams will bring their campaigns to a close next Saturday. It’s a road match for the Gold as they head north to face the Toronto Arrows. The Jackals stay at home to welcome their canine rivals, the Chicago Hounds.

 

SCORING

DALLAS 10
Tries (1) – T. Baravalle (49′)
Cons (1) – A. Torres 1/1 (50′)
Pens (1) – A. Torres 1/2 (17′)
YC (1) – J. Gómez Vara (39′)

NOLA 15
Tries (2) – A. Matthews (25′), M. Koroi (40′)
Cons (1) – D. Botha 1/2 (40′)
Pens (1) – D. Stevens 1/1 (34′)

 

TEAMS

DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray (16 Alex Tucci 30′-71′), 2 Tomás Baravalle (17 Dewald Kotze 54′), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Kyle Steeves 64′), 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur (19 Maikeli Naromaitoga 67′), 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Alejandro Torres, 11 Lui Sitama, 12 Tomás Cubilla, 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Campbell Johnstone (23 Jason Tidwell 71′), 15 Marcos Moroni

Not used: 20 Cameron Nelson, 21 James Vaifale, 22 Juan Pablo Aguirre

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Jarred Adams 53′), 2 Eric Howard (16 Alex Lopeti 53′), 3 James Irey (18 Dino Waldren 53′), 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Liam Hallam-Eames (19 William Waguespack 23′), 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha (20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha 68′), 8 Maciu Koroi, 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Reece Botha, 11 Dougie Fife, 12 Aaron Matthews (22 Jack Webster 71′), 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Harley Wheeler (23 Kenneth Jinkins 71′), 15 Jordan Trainor

Not used: 21 Sebastiano Villani

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Andrew Low (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)