New York stun Houston with late try

Rugby New York claimed a late win over the SaberCats this evening in Houston. A 79th minute try stunned the home side and gave New York a 10-7 victory.

The result means Rugby New York retain their unbeaten record against Houston The SaberCats’ best showing in prior matches against New York was a home loss by 8 points in 2020.

New York had the wind at their backs in the opening half. This did not see them having a half-time lead; rather, the scores were even at the interval following a scoreless opening half.

Both sides had gone close to scoring. For New York, Benjamín Bonasso made a break which Pago Haini turned into a try that was initially awarded. It did not stand as obstruction was the call. Then, with 40 minutes up on the clock Haini played the ball on the ground causing a knock-on less than one meter out. Houston missed a likely try and Haini somehow escaped a yellow card.

New York were against the wind in the second half but started well. Houston were down to 14 for ten minutes with winger Kisi Unufe yellow carded for slapping the ball down. Points did not come then but they could ten minutes later.

The opening score of the match was by New York. Samoan winger Ed Fidow ran around Willie Britz and Gerrie Labuschagne to touch down in the try zone. Former SaberCat, Sam Windsor missed the conversion attempt.

Houston hit-back, doing so by capitalizing on New York loose ball. Labuschagne made a break. The defense could not scramble in time which saw a free run in for Christian Dyer. David Coetzer converted to give Houston the lead for the first time with his conversion.

Houston appeared on course for a victory only for New York to strike with a late and lethal blow. Fidow was again the difference maker. He was all smiled as he again got the better of a brittle Gerrie Labuschagne tackle to run more than half of the length of the field to score.

Houston make the short trip to Dallas next weekend. The match against the Dallas Jackals will be start a new Texas rivalry in MLR. New York travel south to face Rugby ATL.

SCORING

HOUSTON 7
Tries – C. Dyer (66′)
Cons – D. Coetzer 1/1 (67′)
YC – K. Unufe (46′)

NEW YORK 10
Tries – E. Fidow 2 (57′, 79′)
Cons – S. Windsor 0/2
Pens – S. Windsor 0/1
YC – N. Brakeley (64′)

TEAMS

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nicolás Solveyra (17 Frikkie de Beer 70′), 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Aaron Mitchell 58′), 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Danny Barrett (20 Malon Al-Jiboori 27′ {19 Gideon van Wyk 70′}), 7 Willie Britz, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 David Coetzer, 11 Nick Boyer (22 Marcos Moroni 79′), 12 Matai Leuta, 13 Christian Dyer, 14 Kisi Unufe, 15 Gerrie Labuschagne

Not used: 16 Patrick Donovan, 21 Robbie Povey, 23 Jax Hidalgo

RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Zak Taulafo 58′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Kaleb Geiger 75′), 3 Nic Mayhew (18 Wilton Rebolo 48′), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Charlie Hewitt (19 Will Tucker 46′), 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Pago Haini (20 Kara Pryor HT), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Andy Ellis 17′), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Troy Lockyear (22 Jack Heighton 46′)

Not used: 23 John Powers

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & De Wet Roos (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)