Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.

UP

Perfect Season continues for Austin Gilgronis
The Austin Gilgronis kept their perfect record alive with a 22-9 win over the LA Giltinis at Bold Stadium on Saturday. All 22 points from the home side came in the second half after a bruising opening 40 minutes that saw an injury-depleted Giltinis throwing everything at their cocktail cousins.

NOLA Strike Gold in Seattle
The NOLA Gold secured their first win of the season as they scraped by the Seattle Seawolves by a final score of 25-24 at Starfire Stadium on Friday night. The home side recovered from a poor start to the game but ultimately let a second-half lead slip away in the dying moments.

Atlanta Get the Job done against Houston
Rugby ATL were 29-22 winners over the Houston SaberCats on Saturday. The win came thanks to a first half blitz  wherein the Rattlers scored four consecutive tries in a period in which the SaberCats able to score any points. Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg scored a hat-trick. A low-scoring second-half followed; but, the job had been done by Rugby ATL in the first 40 minutes.

New England Free Jacks Win on the Road
The New England Free Jacks impressed on Sunday. The team were 38-29 away winners over Rugby New York. The star performer for the Free Jacks was Beaudein Waaka who scored three of the team’s five tries. Waaka also kicked five goals to finish the match with 26 points.

Matera Makes History
Pablo Matera was named Man of the Match for the Crusaders in Friday’s Super Rugby match against Moana Pasifica in Dunedin, New Zealand. The Argentine forward started out of position at N8 and played the full 80 minutes for the Crusaders. Matera could make further history when Argentina play against New Zealand in Christchurch during the Rugby Championship. Matera could complete the unlikely feat of playing for Los Pumas on his home ground in New Zealand.

Pumas on Fire in Europe
Argentina’s search for a new head coach continues. The incoming coach will have plenty of video to watch as Argentines have been on fire in Europe. This past weekend there were tries from Pumas in all elite leagues – the Top 14, English Premiership and the United Rugby Championship and also in other competitions. Three Pumas scored for London Irish while two others scored for Edinburgh. Agustín Creevy is now the top try scorer for the 2022 English Premiership season. Tomás Cubelli, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Bautista Delguy, Joaquín Oviedo and Tomás Lavanini, scored in the Top 14 over the weekend.

North Americans run rampant in Premier 15s
Jennine Detiveaux was one of five North American players to score tries for Exeter Chiefs in their ruthless 90-7 win over DMP Durham Sharks on the weekend. It wasn’t just one either, the Eagles winger scored four of them en route to Player of the Game honors. Hope Rogers grabbed a double with singles going to Kate Zackary, Emily Tuttosi, and Gabrielle Senft. The USA contingent are set to play in a Falcons XV against Wales this coming Saturday as part of their preparations for the World Cup.

UNDER

Dallas Jackals beaten by record score
The Utah Warriors set a new Major League Rugby record for most points scored in a single game with a 69-22 win over the Dallas Jackals at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday. At the same time the 47-point margin of victory equals the mark set by the LA Giltinis in their victory against the Houston SaberCats in June of last year. The Dallas Jackals continue to search for the winning formula.

New York lose at home in front of sold-out crowd
Rugby New York fell to a 38-29 loss against the new England Free Jacks on Sunday. afternoon. The sold-out crowd at JFK Stadium in Hoboken was treated to an entertaining contest but it was the visitors and not the home side that completed the win. The result combined with Rugby ATL’s win means Rugby New York have missed out on an opportunity to go to the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference.

Peñarol Lose Key Recruit
Peñarol have suffered a major pre-season blow. No8 Manuel Diana is out through injury and has undergone surgery. Diana returned home from the Toronto Arrows to join Peñarol for SLAR 2022. His place on the roster has been taken by Francisco Suárez Folch from Argentina. There are additional question marks over Peñarol forwards. Second-rowers Juanjuan Garese and Felipe Aliaga have also both suffered injuries. They are out of the Peñarol roster for the beginning of the 2022 SLAR season.

Season over for González
José Luis González will not play again this season. The uncapped Argentine hooker has undergone surgery after suffering a cruciate ligament tear while playing for Mont-de-Marsan. He was one of those being monitored by Los Pumas. González will instead be recovering. In the meantime Mont-de-Marsan have recruited another Argentine hooker; Pablo Dimcheff arrives as a medical joker from Bordeaux.

Long Suspension for Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz
Old Glory DC eightman Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz has been suspended for five weeks for an act of foul play during the match against the Toronto Arrows. Video evidence showed that Fa’anana-Schultz struck Arrows flanker Lucas Rumball while being held in a ruck in the first half of the game. The USA international will miss five MLR games. He can next play on April 15 match against the Utah Warriors.