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It was meant to be a step up in competition and it certainly proved that as the Houston SaberCats just barely passed their NYAC test by a score of 39-38 in front of a healthy crowd at Constellation Field on Saturday evening. Where other teams have fallen away in the second half against the Major League Rugby franchise, New York Athletic Club were more than up for the challenge, holding the SaberCats try-less in the second period while scoring three of their own.
First blood went to NYAC with Harry Bennett on target for a penalty goal but the SaberCats responded immediately from the restart with a try via Sam Windsor. Zach Pangelinan and Connor Murphy made it three tries before AC got one of their own.
Murphy’s try kicked off a wild back-and-forth stretch that saw the two teams combine for five tries in 13 minutes. Bennett and Kirk Hamilton touched down for AC but they were countered by a brace for Fijian flyer Josua Vici.
With a halftime score of 33-17 it looked as though the home side were clear and safe. As it turned out that was not at all the case. Replacements streamed into the match and the gaps opened.
A try to Anthony Parry had alarm bells ringing and Sam Windsor opted for the posts instead of the corner at a penalty opportunity. Seamus Kelly was next to find the line and Houston were in real danger of letting it slip away.
Windsor was the hero again with a huge penalty goal from inside his own half to make it a two-score game with just a couple minutes left on the clock. It would prove to be the game winner as Parry grabbed his second try with Bennett’s conversion closing the gap to a single point and making for nervous moments until the clock ticked over for full-time.
The SaberCats host fellow MLR side NOLA Gold this coming weekend in their penultimate preseason match at Constellation Field. They have extended their exhibition campaign with two road matches, a return game in New Orleans on March 24 and a trip to San Diego to play the Legion on April 7.
SCORING
SABERCATS 39
Tries – S. Windsor (5’), Z. Pangelinan (17’), C. Murphy (22’), J. Vici 2 (27’, 35’)
Cons – Z. Pangelinan 3/4 (6’, 18’, 23’), C. Murphy 1/1 (36’)
Pens – Z. Pangelinan 0/3, S. Windsor 2/3 (54’, 77’)
Yellow cards – P. Haini (70’)
NYAC 38
Tries – H. Bennett (24’), K. Hamilton (33’), A. Parry (49’, 78’), S. Kelly (71’)
Cons – H. Bennett 5/5 (25’, 34’, 50’, 72’, 79’)
Pens – H. Bennett 1/1 (4’)
TEAMS
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Adam Macklin, 2 Diego Maquieira, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Robert Meeson, 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.), 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Matt Trouville, 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Josua Vici, 12 Conor Mills, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Chauntez Jackson, 19 Justin Allen, 20 Chris Parker, 21 Chris Coyle, 22 Chris Slater, 23 Kieran Farmer, 24 Dan Paul, 25 Pago Haini
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB
1 Kirk Hamilton, 2 Anthony Parry, 3 Brian McKellar, 4 Gethin Davies, 5 Pat Coleman, 6 Ross Deacon, 7 James Denise, 8 Mike Webb, 9 Marcus Walsh, 10 Harry Bennett (capt.), 11 Charles Guiraud, 12 Quentin Pradere, 13 Seamus Kelly, 14 Greg Voigt, 15 Jack Fitzpatrick
Replacements: 16 John Santiago, 17 Adam Zeich, 18 Brandon Wynne, 19 Ryan McTiernan, 20 Sean Beuche, 21 Stuart Williamson, 22 David Snead, 23 Joe Kelly
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Attendance: 2,416
