RUNY comeback falls just short against Seawolves

photo credit: Peter Marney / Rugby United New York

Recap

A remarkable second half saw Rugby United New York come back from a 31-7 halftime deficit to fall just short, losing 38-31 to the Seattle Seawolves at MCU Park on Saturday. The New York faithful could have been forgiven for eyeing an early exit but were treated to a thrilling finale in a wild encounter.

After a short period of feeling each other out, the Seawolves exploded with three tries in a span of five minutes. Mat Turner was too quick for the defense, slipping through for the first. The second was a smart line from Riekert Hattingh with arm just long enough to reach out and make the line. Turner made it three with a long-range solo run off a counter-attack.

New York finally got on the board with a bit of muscle and perhaps some fortune. As Roland Suniula left the field groggily, Paddy Ryan took a quick tap on a 5-meter penalty and barged into the defense. He looked to be held up just short but somehow managed to place the ball on the line for a much-needed seven pointer.

Seattle pounced first with a Brock Staller penalty just a minute out, then a try from JP Smith just seconds later. Brad Tucker made a half break and then Shalom Suniula scythed through the line, finding Smith on his left to finish the simple two-on-one.

The desperation showed on New York early in the second half. Cathal Marsh picked out Will Leonard with a perfectly-weighted cross kick for a quick try. Another came moments later as Connor Wallace-Sims came foraging from his left wing spot all the way to the right side to curl around and make the corner.

Phil Mack went in under the posts after George Barton and Shalom Suniula combined in the midfield to break through. That looked to have iced the game but two late tries from Dylan Fawsitt made things interesting, one from a maul and a second on a loop around the outside of Luke Hume.

With two bonus points now secured New York came looking for the tying score. Marsh’s kick was charged down but the bounce favored New York and Leonard hacked it ahead. The ball kicked off the turf into the hands of a trailing Marsh and the flyhalf was stopped just short. As the ball was recycled a knock-on spoiled the attack and New York ran out of time.

 

SCORING

NEW YORK 31
Tries – P. Ryan (27’), W. Leonard (47’), C. Wallace-Sims (51’), D. Fawsitt 2 (72’, 75’)
Cons – C. Marsh 3/5 (28’, 48’, 52’)

SEATTLE 38
Tries – M. Turner 2 (12’, 17’), R. Hattingh (16’), J. Smith (40’), P. Mack (65’)
Cons – B. Staller 5/5 (13’, 17’, 18’, 40’, 66’)
Pens – B. Staller 1/1 (39’)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 52’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Sullivan HT {1 James Rochford 67’}), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Alex MacDonald 52’), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Matt Hughston (20 Kyle Sumsion 67’), 7 John Quill, 8 Sean McNulty (16 Callum Mackintosh 61’), 9 Mike Petri (capt.) (21 Marcus Walsh 67’), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (23 Luke Hume 67’), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Mike St. Claire, 15 Ben Foden

Not used: 22 Harry Bennett

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (18 Ryan Youngman 77’), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 61’), 3 Tim Metcher (17 Kellen Gordon 52’), 4 Api Naikatini (20 Eric Duechle 57’), 5 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Samu Manoa 57’), 6 Brad Tucker (23 Dion Crowder 67’-73’), 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 JP Smith (21 Phil Mack 61’), 10 Ben Cima, 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs (23 Dion Crowder 73’), 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 Roland Suniula (22 George Barton 27’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Rugby United New York5300231
Seattle Seawolves5510138

Rugby United New York

1James Rochford 17 Loosehead Prop
2Dylan Fawsitt Hooker
3Paddy Ryan 18 Tighthead Prop
4Trevor Cassidy 19 Left Lock
5Nate Brakeley Right Lock
6Matt Hughston 20 Openside Flanker
7John Quill Blindside Flanker
8Sean McNulty 16 Number Eight
9Mike Petri 21 Scrumhalf
10Cathal Marsh Flyhalf
11Connor Wallace-Sims 23 Left Wing
12Will Leonard Inside Center
13Mark O’Keeffe Outside Center
14Mike St. Claire Right Wing
15Ben Foden Fullback
16Callum Mackintosh 8 Hooker
17Anthony Parry 1 Loosehead Prop
18Chris Sullivan 3 Tighthead Prop
19Alex MacDonald 4 Left Lock
20Kyle Sumsion 6 Blindside Flanker
21Marcus Walsh 9 Scrumhalf
22Harry Bennett Flyhalf
23Luke Hume 11 Right Wing

Seattle Seawolves

1Djustice Sears-Duru 18 Loosehead Prop
2Stephan Coetzee 16 Hooker
3Tim Metcher 17 Tighthead Prop
4Apisai Naikatini 20 Left Lock
5Jérémy Lenaerts 19 Right Lock
6Brad Tucker Blindside Flanker
7Nakai Penny Openside Flanker
8Riekert Hattingh Number Eight
9JP Smith 21 Scrumhalf
10Ben Cima Flyhalf
11Sequoyah Burke-Combs 23 Left Wing
12Shalom Suniula Inside Center
13Roland Suniula 22 Outside Center
14Brock Staller Right Wing
15Mat Turner Fullback
16Dan Trierweiler 2 Hooker
17Kellen Gordon 3 Loosehead Prop
18Ryan Youngman 1 Tighthead Prop
19Samu Manoa 5 Left Lock
20Eric Duechle 4 Blindside Flanker
21Phil Mack 9 Scrumhalf
22George Barton 13 Inside Center
23Dion Crowder 11 Left Wing

Officials

Referee
Scott Green (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Mike O’Brien (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Jake Still (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
May 11, 2019 4:30 pm Major League Rugby 2019

Venue

MCU Park
1904 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA

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