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A 79th-minute try from Chad London gave the Glendale Raptors a 20-16 win over Rugby United New York at Infinity Park on Friday night. It was a largely conservative affair with both sides protecting their playoff ambitions, and it wasn’t until nearly halftime when the first try was scored.
Dylan Taikato-Simpson was given the kicking duties for Glendale with Will Magie on the bench and Robbie Petzer absent. He made good on an early penalty and added a second at the 15-minute mark to push the home side ahead.
New York opted to kick by committee with the left boot of Connor Wallace-Sims responsible for their two penalty goals to draw the scores level at the 35th minute. By then numerous penalties had been conceded by both and the error count was similarly high.
Glendale finally broke through just before halftime. Ata Malifa looked for all money to be in at the corner but knocked on in the tackle just ahead of the line. John Ryberg would add to his league-leading try count just to minutes later. Murphy Taramai attacked the blindside from a scrum and fed the wide-open winger for an easy finish.
The second half was again a stalemate until the referee finally lost patience with Glendale. Connor Cook was sent to the bin for team infringements and from the scrum John Quill, wearing 7 but playing No8, followed Taramai’s lead but needed to winger to finish the job. This time Cathal Marsh stepped up to take the routine conversion.
With time winding down New York inched ahead with a long-range penalty goal from replacement fullback Harry Bennett. The lead wouldn’t hold. Brendan Daly barged through on the left side and Malon Al-Jiboori made the gainline with three strong carries. Chad London looked to be marked by two defenders but somehow slipped through and sprinted straight ahead to score under the posts. Will Magie waited for the hooter to sound before slotting the extras.
The losing bonus point means that New York stays in the top four while Glendale moves to just one point behind. Next up for the Raptors is a home match against the Utah Warriors next Saturday. New York head back to Coney Island where the Houston SaberCats will land on Sunday.
SCORING
GLENDALE 20
Tries – J. Ryberg (38’), C. London (79’)
Cons – D. Taikato-Simpson 1/1 (39’), W. Magie 1/1 (80’)
Pens – D. Taikato-Simpson 2/2 (4’, 15’)
Yellow cards – C. Cook (56’)
NEW YORK 16
Tries – J. Quill (57’)
Cons – C. Marsh 1/1 (58’)
Pens – C. Wallace-Sims 2/2 (22’, 35’), H. Bennett 1/1 (75’)
TEAMS
GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Noah Barker (17 Blake Rogers 63’), 2 Zach Fenoglio (16 Chad Gough 54’), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Kelepi Fifita 73’), 4 Brendan Daly, 5 Luke White (19 Kody O’Neil 66’), 6 Malon Al-Jiboori, 7 Peter Dahl (20 Connor Cook 54’), 8 Murphy Taramai, 9 Shaun Davies (capt.) (21 Carlo de Nysschen 66’), 10 Ata Malifa (22 Will Magie 52’), 11 John Ryberg, 12 Chad London, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Not used: 23 Campbell Johnstone
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Anthony Parry (18 Chris Sullivan 35’ {17 Kirk Hamilton 73’}), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 James Rochford, 4 Trevor Cassidy (20 Kyle Sumsion 52’), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Alex MacDonald, 7 John Quill, 8 Matt Hughston, 9 Marcus Walsh (21 Mike Petri 58’), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (23 Marcus Satavu 73’), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ben Foden, 14 Mike St. Claire, 15 Luke Hume (22 Harry Bennett 69’)
Not used: 16 Mike Brown, 19 Gavan D’Amore-Morrison
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USAR) & Gavin McCandless (USAR)
