Gold take down Old Glory in close contest

The Gold secured their third win in a row with a 20-17 result over Old Glory at Segra Field on Saturday. It was a tight contest from start to finish with the boot of Tito Díaz Bonilla giving DC a 12-10 lead at the half, only for a late Rodney Iona penalty goal to secure the victory for NOLA.

Díaz Bonilla got the home side on the board first with a penalty goal just three minutes in. DC were content to play field position in the wet and windy conditions, and it resulted in a second three-pointer just ahead of the 10-minute mark.

The first try of the match came from on a counter-attack from Iona. Starting well inside his own half, he slipped through a gap and tore up the middle. Iona fired a wide pass on the run to Cael Hodgson, who inadvertently bobbled it backwards to a supporting JP du Plessis. The midfielder had only one player left to beat for the finish, with Iona adding the extras from a wide angle.

A mistake on the restart handed the lead straight back to DC, with Díaz Bonilla on target for a third time. Mike Dabulas looked for all money to be into the corner in a sweeping attacking play but a brilliant last-gasp tackle from du Plessis denied the grounding and instead Old Glory settled for yet another successful kick from Díaz Bonilla.

There was time enough for the Gold to fire back just before the intermission. Half-breaks from Billy Stewart and Luke Campbell set up a routine shot at goal for Iona, which he duly obliged. They almost conjured a score with the clock in the red but a Collin Grosse turnover halted their attack, and then a frantic sequence finally ended with Iona being thrown into touch.

A speculative chip kick from Iona didn’t go to plan early in the second half, and then Fermín Martínez snagged a loose pass to spoil another advance. When the play stopped Old Glory hooker Nic Souchon left the field with an injury of some kind, replaced by Facundo Gattas.

The momentum stayed with DC as Danny Tusitala delivered a 50-22. From an ensuing scrum, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz was stopped just a meter short. More attempts at the line followed but NOLA’s defense withstood the barrage and Pat O’Toole got over the ball to win a penalty.

Possession was soon back with Old Glory and again the Gold were back on their heels. Consecutive penalties at the set piece put them into scoring position, and then at last the try came for William Talataina who need only to pick up the ball at a ruck and reach forward to ground it on he line. Díaz Bonilla’s conversion attempt drifted left of the uprights to leave it a one-score game.

The gap would be closed in an instant. Immediately following the hydration break du Plessis made ground and then Tom Florence tore down the right side. The ball was recycled quickly and Iona found Ross Deppershmidt with a cross-kick. His offload attempt was deflected by Martínez but only to the hands of Cam Dolan, who popped a behind-the-back pass to Jordan Trainor for the try. Iona nailed the extras to draw the scores level.

As the game crept past the 70th minute Trainor attempted a drop goal on advantage but was wide of the mark. Iona off the tee was spot-on, however, and the Gold had the lead to set up a grandstand finish. Old Glory launched a furious assault in the final minutes but again the visitors stood strong until a knock-on brought the game to a close.

Both teams are back in action next Sunday. The Gold return home to face the Seattle Seawolves, while Old Glory make the long trip to the West Coast to take on the San Diego Legion.

 

SCORING

DC 17
Tries (1) – W. Talataina (61′)
Cons (0) – J. Díaz Bonilla 0/1
Pens (4) – J. Díaz Bonilla 4/4 (3′, 9′, 23′, 36′)

NOLA 20
Tries (2) – J. du Plessis (20′), J. Trainor (64′)
Cons (2) – R. Iona 2/2 (21′, 65′)
Pens (2) – R. Iona 2/2 (38′, 72′)
DG (0) – J. Trainor 0/1

 

TEAMS

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro (17 Quentin Newcomer 72′), 2 Nic Souchon (16 Facundo Gattas 45′), 3 Ramiro Herrera (18 Kyle Stewart 49′), 4 Collin Grosse (19 Fintan Coleman 78′), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel (20 Alejo Daireaux 55′), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala (21 John LeFevre 78′), 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Owen Sheehy (22 Thretton Palamo 65′), 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 William Talataina (23 Gradyn Bowd 72′), 14 Marcos Young, 15 Mike Dabulas

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Jarred Adams 52′), 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Sean Paranihi (18 James Irey 62′), 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Billy Stewart (19 William Waguespack 72′), 6 Malcolm May (20 Maciu Koroi 62′), 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Tom Florence, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Cael Hodgson (23 Ross Depperschmidt 62′), 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Dougie Fife, 15 Jordan Trainor

Not used: 16 Alex Lopeti, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Aaron Matthews

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)