New York grind out win over Austin in San Antonio

photo credit: Norma Salinas / Austin Elite Rugby

Recap

Rugby United New York overcame the Austin Elite this afternoon, winning 19-11 in San Antonio, Texas. The fixture saw Austin moving their home match to Toyota Field.

While the Austin Elite were beaten by eight points they competed until late, hoping to sneak in a bonus point. It was not to be, however, which saw them succumbing to their 8th defeat of the season to now have an 0-8 record.

While Austin will need to think hard to address another defeat today’s winning team, Rugby United New York are title contenders. The team from the Empire State have a 7-1 record and are asking teams to play very well to defeat them.

The opening half in San Antonio was Rugby United New York on top. The visitors were winning there key contact battles though the Austin Elite was able to compete well in the lineout were they did win opposition ball.

Despite this being the case it would be the lineout area which saw Rugby United New York scoring the opening points. Scoring was Marcus Walsh who opened up a 5-0 lead after he combined with Mike Brown to catch the Austin Elite defense off-guard.

The opportunity to make it a 7-0 scoreline was not taken as Harry Bennett’s attempted conversion rebounded off the posts. At the other end of the field the Austin Elite would hit back with scrum-half Mickaël Romera cutting the deficit to two points with a penalty.

No further points would be scored in the opening half though the visitors would go close. From an attacking lineout Rugby United New York looked to drive over. The raids were repelled, however, which saw the match remaining a two-point contest at halftime.

It would take twelve minutes for the opening points to come in the second half. Slotting a 52nd minute penalty was Romera, and with it the Austin Elite went ahead 6-5.

Rugby United New York would respond, doing so with their second try of the match. Flanker James Denise went over for a try converted by center Chris Mattina. It gave the visitors a healthy 12-6 advantage.

The Texans fought back to add another twist to the second half. The injection of replacements scrum half Marcelo Torrealba from the bench was effective. The Chilean made a break which resulted in replacement Reece Czarnecki touching down in the left corner.

With JP Aguirre’s attempted conversion sailing side the Austin Elite remained one point behind. Rugby United New York would not be caught up to with 57 time capped USA Eagles scrum half Mike Petri crossing for the decisive try. He did so following smart work from Ross Deacon. In the final point scoring moment of the match Mattina’s conversion made it an eight point ball game.

 

SCORING

AUSTIN 11
Tries – R. Czarnecki (69’)
Cons – J. Aguirre 0/1
Pens – M. Romera 2/2 (30’, 52’)

NEW YORK 19
Tries – M. Walsh (21’), J. Denise (60’), M. Petri (73’)
Cons – H. Bennett 0/1, C. Mattina 2/2 (61’, 74’)

 

TEAMS

AUSTIN ELITE
1 LaRome White (18 Brendan Rams 59’), 2 Tiaan Erasmus (17 Chris Schade 61’), 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Ben Mitchell (capt.), 5 Josh Larsen (19 Dylan Pieterse 65’), 6 Rikus Zwart (20 Kyle Breytenbach 37’), 7 Moe Abdelmonem (16 Dom Bailey 61’), 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Mickaël Romera (21 Marcelo Torrealba 63’), 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Sione Fangaiuiha, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (22 Doug Fraser 57’), 13 JP Aguirre, 14 Aidan McMullan (23 Reece Czarnecki 68’), 15 Soheyl Jaoudat

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 57’), 2 Mike Brown (16 Callum Mackintosh 57’), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Sullivan 57’), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Matt Wirken 36’), 5 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 6 John Quill (20 Ross Deacon HT), 7 James Denise, 8 Matt Hughston, 9 Marcus Walsh (21 Mike Petri 61’), 10 Harry Bennett (23 Luke Hume 57’), 11 Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, 12 Mike St. Claire (22 Mark O’Keeffe HT), 13 Chris Mattina, 14 Seimou Smith, 15 Ben Foden

 

Result

TeamTCPDPoints
Austin Elite102011
Rugby United New York320019

Austin Elite

1LaRome White 18 Loosehead Prop
2Tiaan Erasmus 17 Hooker
3Juan Echeverría Tighthead Prop
4Ben Mitchell Left Lock
5Josh Larsen 19 Right Lock
6Rikus Zwart 20 Blindside Flanker
7Moe Abdelmonem 16 Openside Flanker
8Travis Larsen Number Eight
9Mickaël Romera 21 Scrumhalf
10Rodrigo Silva Flyhalf
11Sione Fangaiuiha Right Wing
12Andrés Vilaseca 22 Inside Center
13Juan Pablo Aguirre Outside Center
14Aidan McMullan 23 Left Wing
15Soheyl Jaoudat Fullback
16Dom Bailey 7 Openside Flanker
17Chris Schade 2 Loosehead Prop
18Brendan Rams 1 Hooker
19Dylan Pieterse 5 Right Lock
20Kyle Breytenbach 6 Blindside Flanker
21Marcelo Torrealba 9 Scrumhalf
22Doug Fraser 12 Inside Center
23Reece Czarnecki 14 Left Wing

Rugby United New York

1James Rochford 17 Loosehead Prop
2Mike Brown 16 Hooker
3Paddy Ryan 18 Tighthead Prop
4Trevor Cassidy 19 Left Lock
5Nate Brakeley Right Lock
6John Quill 20 Blindside Flanker
7James Denise Openside Flanker
8Matt Hughston Number Eight
9Marcus Walsh 21 Scrumhalf
10Harry Bennett 23 Flyhalf
11Gavan D’Amore-Morrison Left Wing
12Mike St. Claire 22 Inside Center
13Chris Mattina Outside Center
14Seimou Smith Right Wing
15Ben Foden Fullback
16Callum Mackintosh 2 Hooker
17Anthony Parry 1 Loosehead Prop
18Chris Sullivan 3 Tighthead Prop
19Matt Wirken 4 Right Lock
20Ross Deacon 6 Number Eight
21Mike Petri 9 Scrumhalf
22Mark O’Keeffe 12 Inside Center
23Luke Hume 10 Right Wing

Officials

Referee
Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Mike O’Brien (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Kat Roche (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
March 30, 2019 2:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019

Venue

Toyota Field
5106 David Edwards Dr, San Antonio, TX 78233, USA

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