Glendale Raptors Edge Rugby United New York

The Glendale Raptors scored a try on the final play by Chad London to beat Rugby United New York 20-16 on Friday, April 26 at Infinity Park.

The MLR match was an important one for both teams as they both seek a playoff spot. Glendale moved closer to a playoff spot in fifth place with a 6-3-2 record and with 37 points, while RUNY kept the fourth place with 38 points while falling to 8-3.

Prior to the match, the USA Women’s Eagles lost to the Barbarians on the final play from a Barbarian try, 34-33.

Match Recap

Rugby United New York had the first scoring threat as Cathal Marsh split defenders and offloaded to Ben Foden, however, the ensuing offload was intercepted by Mika Kruse. This set up a Raptors attack and after a RUNY penalty, Dylan Taikato-Simpson split the uprights for a 3-0 Glendale lead.

Runy attacked from a lineout and mauled their way inside the Raptors 22-meters, however, Peter Dahl stole the ball, thwarting the attack.

After some aerial ping pong, RUNY was penalized for not releasing, allowing Taikato-Simpson to add 3 more points to lead 6-0.

RUNY’s next opportunity came after Dylan Taikato-Simpson was isolated into contact, creating a penalty for not releasing. The Roosters then kicked for territory and attacked from a lineout and mauled. A penalty by Glendale then resulted in a Connor Wallace-Sims kick to cut the lead to 6-3.

Glendale then attacked inside the Rooster’s 22-meters. Kruse was held up, however, resulting in a scrum to RUNY. A scrum penalty on the Raptors allowed RUNY to clear. A second Raptors penalty had RUNY mauling from a lineout. After a third penalty by Glendale, the Raptors were warned that a yellow card would result if it happened again. RUNY attacked again from a lineout and were held up in-goal.

After a 5-meter scrum, the ball bounced out for a turnover to Glendale, allowing the Raptors to escape the pressure and clear. Another penalty by Glendale had Wallace-Sims leveling the match at 6 all.

Ata Malifa took a Shaun Davies offload, found a gap and dummied and lost the ball forward just prior to the tryline with Luke Hume and Mike St. Claire defending. Foden cleared just outside RUNY’s 22-meters resulting in a Raptors lineout. After a Roosters’ penalty, Glendale elected to kick to touch for a lineout. Another penalty gave Glendale a 5-meter scrum and resulted in a try in the left corner by John Ryberg, his 11th of the season. Taikato-Simpson then slotted the conversion for a 13-6 lead.

The restart bounced off a Raptor allowing one last RUNY attack, but the ball went into touch and both teams exited for the break. Mistakes by both teams have influenced the score so far. Teams need to maintain possession more and finish with tries when inside their opponent’s 22-meters.

Second Half

After a sustained attack by Glendale, it was RUNY’s turn to attack from a lineout. A Mike St. Claire break and then another penalty allowed the Roosters to attack from a lineout inside the Raptors 22-meters, however, the ball was not straight for the second consecutive time.

RUNY attacked patiently from a lineout and then went through multiple picks and goes before Raptors Connor Cook was sent to the bin. RUNY elected a 5-meter scrum with John Quill executing a NO.8 pick for a try under the posts with Marsh slotting the kick to knot the match at 13 all in the 58th minute.

Glendale then attacked to within 3 meters of the tryline. The Rooster defense pushed the Raptors back and earned a turnover for a scrum.

Glendale had a potential scoring opportunity stopped on a kick and chase, with an offsides call made. Then RUNY went through multiples phases before a cross kick by Marsh was caught by Davidson, calling a mark.

A Glendale penalty then resulted in a penalty kick by Harry Bennett to take their first lead of the night, 16-13, with less than 5 minutes left.

The Raptors then attacked maintaining possession, adding a break by Daly, and inching forward. Chad London then broke a tackle for a try under the posts, with Will Magie converting to claim a 20-16 win.

With the win, the Raptors kept their playoff hopes alive as their record improved to 6-3-2 with 37 points. RUNY’s record fell to 8-3 but picked up a losing bonus point to keep 4th place with 38 points.