Raptors spoil Arrows unbeaten run

photo credit: Seth McConnell / Colorado Raptors

Recap

The Toronto Arrows are no longer unbeaten, their perfect start to the Major League Rugby season spoiled by the Colorado Raptors on Friday evening by a final score of 22-19. Neither side will be pleased in the match review with numerous errors heavily affecting continuity.

First points went to the Raptors via Robbie Petzer’s boot at the five minute mark. He looked certain to score the first try soon after but Rene Ranger’s pass slipped from his hands with only a couple meters of green separating him from the tryline.

Petzer knocked over a long-range penalty but it was quickly erased by Sam Malcolm’s first kick of the day. When the two sides emerged from the hydration break it was Colorado who struck with a wonderful team try started by Connor Cook and finished by John Ryberg.

It didn’t take long for the Arrows to fire back. It was a set backline move that saw Gastón Mieres coming in off his wing to split the midfield. After breaking the line, the Uruguayan stepped hard off his right foot to leave Mika Kruse for dead and touch down for a seven pointer.

Toronto took the lead when Malcolm landed a second penalty after a high tackle from Ranger. It was Ranger again the villain when he kicked the ball away at another penalty preventing the quick tap. For this indiscretion he was sent to the bin. The Arrows turned down the point and opted for the corner, but Colorado’s defense held strong and they pushed Malcolm into touch.

After Colroado won their throw-in Sam Slade somehow broke free off the post of a ruck and sprinted to halfway, but he chose the wrong option and the opportunity was lost. Andrew Quattrin’s arriving tackle, however, was dangerous and the hooker joined Ranger in the bin, with Petzer taking the three points on offer to retake the lead.

Disaster struck the Arrows immediately to start the second half. The kickoff was misjudged and the ball bounced straight into Kruse’s hands. This time it was the Raptors winger with the footwork, stepping twice and sprinting into the corner for the try. Petzer’s conversion was off-target but Colorado were up by six.

The game scraped ahead through miscues and ill-discipline from both teams. Malcolm sandwiched two penalty goals around a yellow card to Marco Fepulea’i for team infringements. The second kick leveled the scores but Toronto could take no further advantage of the sin bin.

Instead it was the Raptors who had just a little bit left in the tank. They drove into Arrows territory and Petzer’s 76th minute penalty nudged them ahead. Toronto would get one last opportunity thanks to another Colorado penalty, but the ball was stripped from Tomas de la Vega and the Raptors ground down the final 90 seconds of the game.

 

SCORING

COLORADO 22
Tries – J. Ryberg (21’), M. Kruse (41’)
Cons – R. Petzer 0/2
Pens – R. Petzer 4/4 (5’, 16’, 40’, 76’)
Yellow cards – R. Ranger (37’), M. Fepulea’i (65’)

TORONTO 19
Tries – G. Mieres (25’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 1/1 (26’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 4/4 (19’, 32’, 64’, 66’)
Yellow cards – A. Quattrin (39’)

 

TEAMS

COLORADO RAPTORS
1 Kelepi Fifita (18 Zak Taulafo 53’), 2 Chad Gough, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Luke White (capt.), 5 Kody O’Neil, 6 Michael Curry (19 Brendan Daly 57′), 7 Connor Cook (20 Mike Stewart 23’ {17 Xendy Tatibouët 67’-75’}), 8 Sam Slade, 9 Carlo de Nysschen (23 Nick Boyer 51’), 10 Ata Malifa (21 Tomás Quinlan 54’), 11 John Ryberg, 12 Robbie Petzer (22 Ryan James 76′), 13 Rene Ranger, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mason Emerson

Not used: 16 Jay Finau

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Pat Lynott 53’), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Steven Ng 73′), 3 Richie Asiata (18 Cole Keith 52’), 4 Kolby Francis (19 Josh van Horne 59′), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Manuel Diana (16 Steven Ng 43’-49’) (20 Peter Milazzo 70’), 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Riley DiNardo 73’), 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Leandro Leivas, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Mitch Richardson HT), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Sam Malcolm

Not used: 23 Will Kelly

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Colorado Raptors204022
Toronto Arrows1140119

Colorado Raptors

1Kelepi Fifita 18 Loosehead Prop
2Chad Gough Hooker
3Marco Fepulea’i Tighthead Prop
4Luke White Right Lock
5Kody O’Neil Left Lock
6Michael Curry 19 Blindside Flanker
7Connor Cook 20 Openside Flanker
8Sam Slade Number Eight
9Carlo de Nysschen 23 Scrumhalf
10Ata Malifa 21 Flyhalf
11John Ryberg Left Wing
12Robbie Petzer 22 Inside Center
13Rene Ranger Outside Center
14Mika Kruse Right Wing
15Mason Emerson Fullback
16Jacob Finau Hooker
17Xendy Tatibouët 20 Loosehead Prop
18Sakaria Taulafo 1 Tighthead Prop
19Brendan Daly 6 Blindside Flanker
20Michael Stewart 17 Openside Flanker
21Tomás Quinlan 10 Flyhalf
22Ryan James 12 Right Wing
23Nick Boyer 9 Scrumhalf

Toronto Arrows

1Rob Brouwer 17 Loosehead Prop
2Andrew Quattrin 16 Hooker
3Richie Asiata 18 Tighthead Prop
4Kolby Francis 19 Left Lock
5Paul Ciulini Right Lock
6Tomás de la Vega Left Flanker
7Lucas Rumball Right Flanker
8Manuel Diana 20 Number Eight
9Andrew Ferguson 21 Scrumhalf
10Tayler Adams Flyhalf
11Leandro Leivas Right Wing
12Guiseppe du Toit Inside Center
13Ben LeSage 22 Outside Center
14Gastón Mieres Left Wing
15Sam Malcolm Fullback
16Steven Ng 2 Hooker
17Pat Lynott 1 Loosehead Prop
18Cole Keith 3 Tighthead Prop
19Josh van Horne 4 Left Lock
20Peter Milazzo 8 Left Flanker
21Riley DiNardo 9 Scrumhalf
22Mitch Richardson 13 Outside Center
23Will Kelly Flyhalf

Officials

Referee
Mike O’Brien (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Steve Gore (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Rick Goldammer (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
March 6, 2020 8:00 pm Eastern Conference 2020

Venue

Infinity Park
Glendale, Arapahoe County, Colorado, 80246, United States of America

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