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The Ontario Arrows had their inaugural home game ‘iced’ out last weekend but they’ll get a chance to lace the boots up again on Saturday when they head east to face the Boston Mystics at Pine Banks Park. It’s part of a series of ‘Major League Rugby‘ concept matches also involving Rugby United New York, the only side officially confirmed for the new startup professional competition.
Both of Boston’s fixtures thus far have come against New York, the first a blowout loss at Gaelic Park and the second a competitive match at Mignone Field. Ontario have taken the field three times in 2018. A draw in Houston was followed by a loss in New Rochelle and most recently their first ever win as a franchise in Salt Lake City against the Utah Warriors.
The Mystics have the bulk of their side together. Veteran loose forwards Joe Shurmaitis and Jon Kokinda are unavailable but there is a return for Chris Frazier on the flank and 20-year-old Glendale Raptors academy member Owen Hundt gets a start at No8.
There are no changes to the backs that posed questions of New York. Argentine import Santiago Bertranou will run the show again at flyhalf with USA Maccabiah games select Mike Rudzinsky added to the bench as cover.
Ontario will field their strongest available side that includes five Canadian internationals in the run-on team, with another on the bench. Andrew Ferguson has returned to train with the Rugby Canada centralized squad but fellow Americas Rugby Championship reps Kainoa Lloyd and Martial Lagain join up with the team. Lloyd starts on the wing while hooker Lagain will make his Arrows debut from the bench.
Alex Gliksten steps in to replace Ferguson at scrumhalf and there is a change in the midfield with Jon West recalled at the expense of Mitch Richardson. Nova Scotia native Cooper Coats is handed his first start for the side at fullback after being named on the bench for the match against the SaberCats.
On paper the Arrows look to have the advantage but Boston showed they are a different animal at home. Playing at their familiar Pine Banks Park the Mystics should be well up for this one, and will hope the road trip takes its toll on their guests. Expect a close match with the edge going to a confident Ontario side.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time. There is no live stream planned at this time.
BOSTON MYSTICS
1 Dave McKenna, 2 Jeff Laflamme, 3 Pino Maupese, 4 Michael Kaivelata, 5 Andrew Burns, 6 Chris Frazier, 7 Devin Ibanez, 8 Owen Hundt, 9 Ian Luciano, 10 Santiago Bertranou, 11 Vini Daley, 12 Matías de Paolis, 13 Paulo Aukuso, 14 Stephen Dazzo, 15 Jared Collinson
Replacements: 16 Gianni Miceli, 17 Greg Rasmuson, 18 Scott Lucas, 19 Dana Corcoran, 20 Sam Sirell, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Mike Rudzinsky, 23 Aki Raymond
ONTARIO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer, 2 AJ Quattrin, 3 Tom Dolezel, 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Marcello Wainwright, 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Kolby Francis, 9 Alex Gliksten, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Jamie Leveridge, 13 Jon West, 14 Johnny Sheridan, 15 Cooper Coats
Replacements: 16 Martial Lagain, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Mike Smith, 19 Josh van Horne, 20 Tom van Horne, 21 Mario van der Westhuizen, 22 Shawn Windsor, 23 Mitch Richardson
Date: Saturday, April 21
Venue: Pine Banks Park, Boston
Kickoff: 16:00 local (13:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: n/a
