Meyer double helps NOLA defeat Colorado

Recap

Two second half tries from Carl Meyer helped the NOLA Gold get back on the winning track as they edged the Raptors 27-20 in Glendale on Saturday. Colorado missed a last-gasp draw by the narrowest of margins as they tasted defeat at Infinity Park for just the second time in Major League Rugby.

The alarm bells were ringing early for the Raptors as Tomás Quinlan gifted NOLA with an attacking lineout by stepping outside the 22 before clearing to touch. There was no mistake from the Gold. Eric Howard hit Kane Thompson in the lineout and then the hooker took the credit when the maul was driven over.

Within just a couple minutes they were in again. Julián Domínguez got the ball in space down the left side and dropped his shoulder, going clean through the tackle attempt of Seth Halliman. Carl Meyer tacked on the extra two and it was 14-nil with only nine minutes played.

The Raptors needed the next score and they got it through Nick Boyer. The powerful scrumhalf picked out a gap straight from the back of a scrum and blasted through himself, touching down under the posts for a much-needed seven pointer.

Discipline soon began to evade the Gold. They conceded both territory and then successive kicks at goal for Quinlan. He would capitalise on both opportunities to all but close the gap, with the halftime score reading NOLA 14, Colorado 13.

The second half started with New Orleans back in control. Colorado conceded a penalty, then quick hands from the set piece put Tim Maupin in space. Meyer cut back across to take the final pass over the line but then sliced the conversion attempt.

Meyer accounted for the next two scores. First he knocked over a penalty after a Colorado indiscretion, then Meyer broke free at halfway and showed the defense a clean pair of heels en route to his second try of the half. The sideline conversion was pushed right but the Gold were 27-13 to the good.

An ill-advised professional foul from Holden Yungert landed NOLA’s scrumhalf in the bin. The Raptors then looked for inspiration and got it from their bullocking winger John Ryberg. He bounced through one and took the clear run to the line, with Quinlan’s conversion making it a one-score game.

With time winding down Colorado still had life in them. NOLA were stuck on the back foot and driven back to the shadow of their own posts. Just seconds remained when Chad London ran a hard line and looked to have snatched a potential draw, but the scoring pass from Ata Malifa was ruled forward and NOLA escaped with the win.

SCORING

COLORADO 20
Tries – N. Boyer (16’), J. Ryberg (68’)
Cons – T. Quinlan 2/2 (17’, 69’)
Pens – T. Quinlan 2/2 (28’, 33’)

NOLA 27
Tries – E. Howard (4’), J. Domínguez (8’), C. Meyer 2 (44’, 62’)
Cons – C. Meyer 2/4 (5’, 9’)
Pens – C. Meyer 1/1 (59’)
Yellow cards – H. Yungert (64’)

TEAMS

COLORADO RAPTORS
1 Zak Taulafo (18 Kelepi Fifita 59’), 2 Chad Gough (16 Jay Finau 70’), 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Kody O’Neil (19 Michael Curry 49’), 5 Luke White (capt.), 6 Brendan Daly, 7 Mike Stewart (20 Connor Cook 59’), 8 Sam Slade, 9 Nick Boyer (23 Carlo de Nysschen 57’), 10 Tomás Quinlan, 11 John Ryberg, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Chad London, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Seth Halliman (21 Ata Malifa 46’)

Not used: 17 Xendy Tatibouët, 22 Ryan James

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 64’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Cam Falcon 64’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Ben Tarr 59’), 4 Kane Thompson, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Ignacio Dotti (19 Malcolm May 13’ {20 Lindsey Stevens 70’}), 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Con Foley (capt.), 13 Tim Maupin, 14 Shawn Riley, 15 Carl Meyer

Not used: 21 Joeli Tikoisuva, 22 Ross Depperschmidt, 23 Trace Bolstad