DC battles to playoff win over defending champs New York

Old Glory DC earned a hard-fought 37-33 win over the defending champion New York Ironworkers at Memorial Field on Sunday. The home side led 19-16 at halftime but an inspired second half performance led the visitors to victory in their first ever playoff match.

It was a furious start to the game as New York scored just 45 seconds in. DC’s defense was disorganized and outnumbered, with Fa’asiu Fuatai finishing off simple hands in the corner. Sam Windsor’s kick could quite find its target.

The visitors made up for it in lightning-quick fashion as a penalty set up an attacking lineout. When the ball came out William Talataina’s outside-in angle beat a flat-footed New York defense and the midfielder was in for five. Tito Díaz Bonilla chipped over two more to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.

Shortly after the Ironworkers were caught trying to play out of their own end, and a penalty gave Díaz Bonilla a shot at three points. He made no mistake to stretch the lead. Just after the hydration break another three-pointer from Diaz Bonilla made it a two-score game.

Ill-discipline from DC saw the gap reduced to just a single point. An attacking lineout gave New York an opportunity to put their driving maul into action, and the result was exactly what they wanted. Not only did they get seven points from a penalty try, but Old Glory captain Kyle Baillie was shown yellow for the intentional collapse.

The visitors were temporary reduced to 13 men when Lautaro Bavaro joined Baillie in the bin for an identical offense. From the ensuing lineout the mismatch up front yielded another try to New York with Dylan Fawsitt on the end of the driving maul. Windsor found his mark this time and the home side were six points to the good.

DC would hold on until Baillie returned, and then they earned a kickable for Díaz Bonilla just before halftime. The Argentine’s radar was accurate from beyond 40 meters to make it a three-point game as the two sides headed into the sheds.

Controversy arrived 10 minutes into the second half. Fawsitt was bundled over the line but appeared to be held up, and the referee indicated so. The TMO chose to intervene, however, and despite the evidence suggesting otherwise awarded the try, with Windsor adding making it a full seven.

After shaking off their disbelief, DC came back with fire. They regained possession after the kickoff and went through the phases, tying in the New York defense until Baillie muscled over in the corner for the try. Díaz Bonilla split the posts from the sidelines and the deficit was down to three.

The momentum stayed with the visitors and New York were pinned in their end. Two scrum penalties went against the home side, and then a yellow card was brandished to Sam Davies for an infringement at a maul. When the Ironworkers committed a fourth scrum penalty the referee had no option but to award the seven points and send Tevita Langi to sit beside Davies.

Despite being shorthanded the home side took the front foot and DC’s discipline began to falter. They managed to hang on and Fawsitt lost possession as he charged at the line to give Old Glory a chance to catch their breath.

A turnover in the dying moments led to a DC breakout that was finished off by Kurt Baker to put the result beyond doubt. DaQuan Perry scored a consolation try for New York with time up on the clock.

New York now look to next season knowing they have work to do to reach the heights of the 2022 campaign. DC’s celebrations will be short-lived as they now prepare to challenge the New England Free Jacks for the Eastern Conference title at Fort Quincy next Saturday.

 

SCORING

NEW YORK 33
Tries (5) – F. Fuatai (1′), Penalty try (27′), D. Fawsitt 2 (33′, 51′), D. Perry (80′)
Cons (4) – S. Windsor 3/4 (34′, 51′, 80’+1′), No kick (27′)
YC (2) – S. Davies (66′), T. Langi (67′)

DC 37
Tries (4) – W. Talataina (4′), K. Baillie (57′), Penalty try (67′), K. Baker (78′)
Cons (4) – J. Díaz Bonilla 3/3 (5′, 58′, 79′), No kick (67′)
Pens (3) – J. Díaz Bonilla 3/3 (8′, 21′, 38′)
YC (2) – K. Baillie (27′), L. Bavaro (33′)

 

TEAMS

NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Tevita Langi 61′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Kaleb Geiger (18 Sam Davies 61′), 4 Charlie Hewitt (20 Kara Pryor 15′ {16 DaQuan Perry 79′}), 5 Hamish Dalzell, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Pago Haini (19 Monate Akuei 61′ {3 Kaleb Geiger 66-76′} {1 Chance Wenglewski 76′-77′}), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Conor McManus 47′), 10 Jason Emery (23 Nick Feakes 61′), 11 Teofilo Fidow, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Brooklyn Hardaker, 15 Sam Windsor

Not used: 22 Quinn Ngawati

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon (16 Facundo Gattas 55′), 3 Kyle Stewart (18 Quentin Newcomer 70′), 4 Tevita Naqali (19 Collin Grosse 48′), 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (23 Alejo Daireaux 47′), 7 Lautaro Bavaro (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 48′-58′), 8 Niko Jones (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 70′), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Junior Sa’u (21 John Rizzo 70′), 12 Doug Fraser (22 Thretton Palamo 53′), 13 William Talataina, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Kurt Baker

Not used: 17 Cali Martinez

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Cisco Lopez (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)