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The Toronto Arrows scored the biggest win in their short history on Sunday afternoon as they defeated the defending champion Seattle Seawolves 29-7 at York Alumni Field. A four-try bonus point gives the team a vital boost to their playoff hopes, with New York now just five points ahead.
Both teams were feeling the pressure of the occasion in the first half. Penalties and mistakes made for a disjointed start, and the Arrows eschewed points for the corner until at last settling for three points to open the scoring via Sam Malcolm in the 25th minute.
Poor discipline from Leandro Leivas saw the winger sent to the bin soon after. His second intentional knock-on in as many minutes drew the ire of the referee, leaving Toronto shorthanded for the rest of the half. Seattle failed to take advantage, however, and instead it was Mike Sheppard who crashed over in the corner after Guiseppe du Toit made inroads from a lineout.
Leivas made amends early in the second half. du Toit broke clean through on a flat pass from replacement scrumhalf Jamie Mackenzie. He was felled just short of the line by a desperate Brock Staller tackle but Leivas was the first in support to fall over the line from a meter out. Malcolm’s conversion made it 15-0 and Seattle’s energy was visibly draining.
The Seawolves began to ring the changes and moved JP Smith back to his more familiar scrumhalf spot, with Shalom Suniula taking over at flyhalf. It paid immediate dividends as Suniula stepped past three Arrows defenders at first receiver to breathe some life back into his team.
It wouldn’t be enough. The decisive moment came in the 70th minute from Dan Moor. A handling error spilled possession and quick hands found the captain on the right side. Moor split the defense, swerved away from Mat Turner, and stepped on the afterburners for a brilliant 65 meter solo effort.
With the result no longer in doubt the Arrows kept the pressure on. Theo Sauder and Kolby Francis combined to put Seattle on the back foot. At the end of numerous phases was Paul Ciulini, the big lock diving in under the sticks to earn the vital bonus point.
Next up for the Arrows is another huge test in the San Diego Legion. The match will be played at the 9,600 capacity Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto, another first for Major League Rugby. Seattle will enjoy a bye week before returning east to New York on May 11.
SCORING
TORONTO 29
Tries – M. Sheppard (34’), L. Leivas (45’), D. Moor (70’), P. Ciulini (74’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 3/4 (46’, 71’, 75’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 1/1 (25’)
Yellow cards – L. Leivas (29’)
SEATTLE 7
Tries – S. Suniula (62’)
Cons – B. Staller 1/1 (63’)
TEAMS
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Pat Lynott 71’), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Steven Ng 66’), 3 Morgan Mitchell (18 Cole Keith 53’), 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini (19 Tom van Horne 75’), 6 Lucas Rumball (20 Kolby Francis 61’), 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Marcello Wainwright, 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Jamie Mackenzie HT), 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Dan Moor (capt.), 12 Guiseppe du Toit (22 Patrick Parfrey 63’), 13 Spencer Jones, 14 Leandro Leivas (23 Theo Sauder 53’), 15 Gastón Mieres
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 46’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 Ryan Youngman 75’), 4 Taylor Krumrei (19 Jérémy Lenaerts HT), 5 Apisai Naikatini (20 Eric Duechle 50’), 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 Phil Mack (22 George Barton 61’), 10 JP Smith, 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs (23 Dion Crowder 71′), 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 Roland Suniula, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner (21 Scott Dean 75’)
*NOTE: Kellen Gordon was withdrawn before kickoff leaving Seattle with only 22 players.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Moe Chaudhry (RC) & Peter Pender (RC)
Attendance: 2,187
