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Austin’s perfect record is no more. Rugby ATL brought the Gilgronis down to earth with a dominant 29-14 win at Silverbacks Park on Saturday. Played in chilly conditions, the visitors looked to be still feeling the affects of the hard-fought win over LA and could not match the strength of the Ratlers up front.
Martini Talapusi opened the scoring with an early penalty. The AG defense held up Marko Janse van Rensburg in-goal but it was only a temporary reprieve. Harley Davidson picked off a loose pass and sprinted most of the way, with Matt Heaton on hand in support to pick and drive over for a try.
Janse van Rensburg would get his try a few minutes later. Talapusi’s inch-perfect touch-finder set up an attacking lineout and the maul was unstoppable. A second penalty from Talapusi made the score 16-nil for the home side and things were looking grim for Austin.
Some hope came from a Christian Ostberg line break, with Julián Domínguez making more ground. Next it was Hugh Roach who slipped through and connected with Mark O’Keeffe for the finish. Mack Mason added the conversion to make it 16-7 at halftime.
The Ratlers went right back to work in the second half. Will Leonard powered over but he was held up over the line. Instead it was the boot of Talapusi again taking three points to stretch the lead to 12 points.
For a moment things got interesting as the AG’s pressed into ATL territory. Ryan Louwrens broke to the outside and somehow had the wherewithal to reach out and ground the ball before being driven into touch. Mason’s sideline conversion suddenly made it a one-score game.
It wasn’t to be for Austin. Talapusi knocked over a penalty goal and soon found himself touching down for a try. Ross Deacon barged through three would-be tacklers with Johan Momsen there to take it further. A loose pass was snapped up by Talapusi for a free run up the middle, the flyhalf converting his own to finish the day with a personal haul of 19 points.
The Gilgronis return home to welcome the New England Free Jacks on Saturday. ATL will play a road game against Old Glory DC next Sunday.
SCORING
ATL 29
Tries – M. Heaton (18′), M. Janse van Rensburg (26′), M. Talapusi (64′)
Cons – M. Talapusi 1/3 (65′)
Pens – M. Talapusi 4/4 (3′, 34′, 49′, 60′)
AUSTIN 14
Tries – M. O’Keeffe (36′), R. Louwrens (56′)
Cons – M. Mason 2/2 (37′, 57′)
TEAMS
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke (16 Alex Maughan 43′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos 71′), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (18 John Sullivan 60′), 4 Justin Basson (20 Ross Deacon 58′), 5 Johan Momsen (19 Conor Keys 66′), 6 Connor Cook (21 Daemon Torres 68′), 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Rowan Gouws (22 Ryan Rees 66′), 10 Martini Talapusi, 11 Harley Davidson (23 Lui Sitama 78′), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Austin White
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 LaRome White 47′), 2 Hugh Roach (16 Robbie Coetzee 68′), 3 Namatahi Waa (18 Mason Pedersen 47′), 4 Christian Ostberg (19 Sebastian de Chaves 60′), 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Dom Akina, 7 Michael de Waal, 8 Locky McCaffrey (20 Asa Carter 58′), 9 Ryan Louwrens (21 Sidney Shoop 78′), 10 Mack Mason (23 Chris Mattina 71′), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.) (22 Will Magie 60′), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Marcel Brache
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Henrique Platais (Brazil) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
