Rugby United New York hosts NOLA Gold Rugby Club on May 26 at 1 pm at MCU Park in Brooklyn. Tickets are available and the match is being broadcast on ESPN+, SNY, and Cox Sports TV.
The Roosters enter the match with a 10-4 record and are in 4th place in the MLR standings with 49 points. They conclude the regular season on June 2 in Toronto, who is also contending for a playoff spot.
NOLA Gold has a 9-5 record, but have generated bonus points to be in 2nd place with 52 points. They conclude their regular season on June 2 in San Diego against the Legion.
Prior to the match Rugby United New York Academy, U20s will face Brooklyn Rugby Club at 10:30 am.
Squads for both matches are listed below.
Match Comments
Rugby United New York played NOLA Gold on February 16 and left New Orleans with a 27-24 win. The stakes are much higher with the top four teams making the playoffs. NOLA Gold is the second-ranked attack team in the MLR averaging 29.3 points per match vs 25.2 for RUNY. They have scored more tries 62-54, yet have also conceded more.
The Roosters have the 2nd ranked defense in the MLR. They are a more possession controlling team, spend more time in their opponent’s territory, and spend more of the match in the attack than NOLA Gold.
Both teams look to score tries first and turn to penalty goals when tactical circumstances dictate. Look for both teams to kick for territory, especially after penalties at attempt to score after lineouts. NOLA Gold has an 87-84% of their own lineouts won, but MCU Park and the winds from the ocean will be an equalizer. Both teams have a solid group of forwards, but the Roosters have a 93-86% edge in winning their own scrums. NOLA Gold also commits 2.4 vs 1.4 scrum infractions per match.
Leading ball carriers for the teams are Ben Foden, Mark O’Keeffe, and Dylan Fawsitt for RUNY, with Tristan Blewett, JP Eloff, and Con Foley for NOLA Gold. The teams also have the second and third try scorers in the MLR in Blewett (12) for NOLA Gold, while Fawsitt has 11 for RUNY. Eric Howard and Connor Wallace-Sims are not far behind with 9 and 8 for GOLD and RUNY, respectively.
Rugby United New York Head Coach Mike Tolkin has made four changes in his starters with Paddy Ryan at tighthead prop, Ross Deacon at No.8, Cathal Marsh at flyhalf, and Ben Foden at fullback. Trevor Cassidy also returns to the matchday roster as a reserve.
NOLA Gold Head Coach Nate Osborne has kept his starters intact for the match against RUNY. Kevin Sullivan, John Sullivan, and Tadgh Leader join the reserves.
Squads with Player Article Links
Rugby United New York: 1 James Rochford 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Paddy Ryan 4 Alex MacDonald 5 Nate Brakeley 6 John Quill 7 Matt Hughston 8 Ross Deacon 9 Mike Petri (C) 10 Cathal Marsh 11 Connor Wallace-Sims 12 Will Leonard 13 Mark O’Keeffe 14 Mike St. Claire 15 Ben Foden 16 Sean McNulty 17 Anthony Parry 18 Chris Sullivan 19 Trevor Cassidy 20 Kyle Sumsion 21Harry Bennett 22 Marcus Satavu 23 Luke Hume + Head Coach Mike Tolkin
NOLA Gold: 1 Hubert Buydens 2 Eric Howard (C) 3 Alex Maughan 4 Kane Thompson 5 Nikola Bursic 6 Ignacio Dotti 7 Zack Stryffeler 8 Cam Dolan 9 Holden Yungert 10 Scott Gale 11 Nick Feakes 12 Con Foley 13 Tristan Blewett 14 Tim Maupin 15 JP Eloff (VC) 16 Matt Harmon 17 Cam Falcon18 Kevin Sullivan 19 John Sullivan 20 Moni Tongauiha 21 Michael Baska 22 Taylor Howden 23 Tadhg Leader + Head Coach Nate Osborne
Rugby United New York Academy U20s vs Brooklyn Rugby Club
Brooklyn Rugby Club: 1 Jahshawn Marconi 2 Daniel Newcombe 3 Justin McDonald 4 Tim Carroll 5 Frank Morgera 6 Matthieu Nerson 7 Mark O’Donnell 8 Toby Tornay 9 Ian Ralls 10 Taisei Sugi 11 Josiah Ruhland 12 Phil Pepe 13 Keith Van Wickler 14 Brett Barbosa 15 Craig MacKenzie 16 Eric James 17 Ben Martin 18 Israel Burns 19 Sean O’Malley 20 Robert Caruso 21 James Telfer 22 Zach Light 23 Parnaoz Kapanadze 24 Anthony Yanni 25 Jessie Fullmer Head Coach – Daniel Newcombe Asst. Coach – Allen Wolfe
Rugby United NY Academy U20s Expanded Training Squad: Props – Yiannis Balis, Wolfgang Mejias, Jan Nunez, Doug Price Hooker – Chris Johnson, Alex Nanai Lock – Jack Brandes, Nick Lapponese, Charlie Overton, Brendan Tomb Flanker – Anthony Cimino, Mike Hay, Maek Kongawad No.8 – Will Beney, Kaiel Blake Scrumhalf – Bryan Calton, Brandon Healy, Luke Persanis Flyhalf – Liam Harte, Anthony McGrath, Hunter Musson Center – Elijah Billips, Tom Treussard Wing – Mario Cimino, Emmett Esposito Fullback – Finbar Doyle, Philip Duffy, Vinny McGuire
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