Arrows overwhelm SaberCats in Houston

photo credit: Jeremy Fletcher / Bigshots Snapshots / Houston SaberCats

Recap

The Toronto Arrows picked up their second win of the Major League Rugby season as they beat the Houston SaberCats 44-27 in an all-action affair at Constellation Field on Friday evening. After building a dominant 27-10 halftime lead, the Arrows again hit a wall in the second half but had just enough energy to hold on and seal the win.

Sam Windsor’s radar was off as he uncharacteristically missed an early penalty. Instead it was Johnny Sheridan who plucked a loose pass out of the air to score the first try against the run of play. Sam Malcolm was spot on with the extras and added a penalty goal to make it 10-0 Arrows.

A second chance for Windsor would find its target but the Arrows wasted no time replying. From an attacking lineout the forwards were unstoppable and Kolby Francis was the man with the ball over the line. Houston needed a response and they got their own in identical fashion with Jamie Dever getting credit at the bottom of the driving maul.

The score would not carry to the break. Malcolm nailed his second penalty and then Dan Moor pounced on a handling error, connecting with Avery Oitomen on his outside and the teenage flyer stepped on the accelerator to slide in for his third try of the season. The sideline conversion was curled in beautifully by Malcolm to stretch the lead.

Things went from bad to worse for the SaberCats as the Arrows came out flying from the restart. Andrew Ferguson screamed through a gap from his own end and found Malcolm on his inside to carry it deep into Houston territory. The quick recycle went to Spencer Jones and with the defense in tatters it was a straightforward run to the line.

A bit of inspiration came from Zach Pangelinan. Houston’s fullback goose-stepped his way past the Arrows forwards and his offload found Kelly Kolberg in support for the finish. Another try would come soon after. Pat O’Toole was held up but the referee came back for advantage and Connor Murphy’s quick tap ended with Malacchi Esdale in space and into the left corner.

Malcolm broke up the momentum temporarily with his third penalty goal but Windsor clawed another seven points back with his trademark dummy and inside step taking up in under the sticks. It would not be enough to save the game, however. The Arrows reserves went to work in the scrum and Andrew Wilson peeled off the back for a late try with Malcolm making it a perfect 8-from-8 off the kicking tee.

 

SCORING

HOUSTON 27
Tries – J. Dever (35’), K. Kolberg (45’), M. Esdale (51’), S. Windsor (63’)
Cons – S. Windsor 2/4 (36’, 64’)
Pens – S. Windsor 1/2 (27’)

TORONTO 44
Tries – J. Sheridan (5’) K. Francis (31’), A. Oitomen (40’), S. Jones (42’), A. Wilson (75’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 5/5 (6’, 32’, 40’, 43’, 76’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 3/3 (15’, 38‘, 56’)

 

TEAMS

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Jake Turnbull 52’), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Amro Gouda 72’), 3 Jamie Dever (18 Charlie Connolly 52’), 4 Robert Meeson (20 Diego Magno 56’), 5 Matt Trouville (capt.), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Chris Coyle (21 Alejandro Nieto 35’), 8 Ayron Schramm (19 Chris Parker 64’), 9 Connor Murphy (22 Chris Saint 77’), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Malacchi Esdale, 12 Max Tacket, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Kelly Kolberg (23 Conor Mills 56’), 15 Zach Pangelinan

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (18 Mike Smith 77’), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Steven Ng 25’-36’, 77’), 3 Tom Dolezel (17 Pat Lynott 53’), 4 Josh van Horne (19 Tom van Horne 53’), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Peter Milazzo, 7 Marcello Wainwright, 8 Kolby Francis (20 Andrew Wilson 60’), 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Riley DiNardo 72’), 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Johnny Sheridan, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Dan Moor (capt.), 14 Avery Oitomen (22 Leandro Leivas 72’), 15 Jack Evans (23 Gastón Mieres 53’)

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Houston SaberCats4210127
Toronto Arrows5530144

Houston SaberCats

1Mateo Sanguinetti 17 Loosehead Prop
2Pat O’Toole 16 Hooker
3Jamie Dever 18 Tighthead Prop
4Robert Meeson 20 Left Lock
5Matt Trouville Right Lock
6Luke Beauchamp Blindside Flanker
7Chris Coyle 21 Openside Flanker
8Ayron Schramm 19 Number Eight
9Connor Murphy 22 Scrumhalf
10Sam Windsor Flyhalf
11Malacchi Esdale Left Wing
12Max Tacket Inside Center
13Osea Kolinisau Outside Center
14Kelly Kolberg 23 Right Wing
15Zach Pangelinan Fullback
16Amro Gouda 2 Hooker
17Jake Turnbull 1 Loosehead Prop
18Charlie Connolly 3 Tighthead Prop
19Chris Parker 8 Left Lock
20Diego Magno 4 Openside Flanker
21Alejandro Nieto 7 Number Eight
22Chris Saint 9 Scrumhalf
23Conor Mills 14 Inside Center

Toronto Arrows

1Rob Brouwer 18 Loosehead Prop
2Andrew Quattrin 16 Hooker
3Tom Dolezel 17 Tighthead Prop
4Josh van Horne 19 Left Lock
5Paul Ciulini Right Lock
6Peter Milazzo Right Flanker
7Marcello Wainwright Left Flanker
8Kolby Francis 20 Number Eight
9Andrew Ferguson 21 Scrumhalf
10Sam Malcolm Flyhalf
11Johnny Sheridan Right Wing
12Spencer Jones Inside Center
13Dan Moor Outside Center
14Avery Oitomen 22 Left Wing
15Jack Evans 23 Fullback
16Steven Ng 2 Hooker
17Pat Lynott 3 Loosehead Prop
18Mike Smith 1 Tighthead Prop
19Tom van Horne 4 Left Lock
20Andrew Wilson 8 Number Eight
21Riley DiNardo 9 Scrumhalf
22Leandro Leivas 14 Left Wing
23Gastón Mieres 15 Fullback

Officials

Referee
Paul-Henri Courbier (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 2
Butch Neuenschwander (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
February 22, 2019 8:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019

Venue

Constellation Field
Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, Texas, United States of America

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