Rugby New York Race Into Second Place After Beating the Toronto Arrows

The Toronto Arrows fell short, losing 41-17 to Rugby New York at York Stadium at Noon on May 8. The match was broadcast on TSN in Canada and internationally on The Rugby Network.

Both teams entered the match in a fight for the playoffs. New York emerged with a bonus-point win and moved them into second place in the Eastern Conference with an 8-4 record and 42 points, one more than Rugby ATL, who lost last night to the Utah Warriors. Toronto remains in fourth place with a 6-6 record and 30 points and faces an uphill battle for the playoffs with four regular-season matches left.

Match Recap

Toronto started the match kicking high into the wind and the ball was turned over through a penalty by New York. The Arrows opted to kick to touch instead of at goal and mauled from a lineout 5-meters out. New York defended well and went down for a New York scrum. After an Arrows scrum penalty, New York cleared.

Toronto took the ball back inside their 22-meters and a Du Toit kick went straight into touch and resulted in a New York lineout just inside the Arrows’ 22-meters. Nate Brakeley gathered the lineout throw and the team mauled with Kalolo Tuiloma barreling over two defenders for a try. Jack Heighton’s kick bounced off the left post, but Rugby New York led, 0-5.

Rugby New York took advantage of an Arrows loose ball turnover and cycled the ball wide to Ed Fidow, who scored in the left corner with Heighton slotting, 0-12.

New York quickly added another try after winning the ball at the breakdown as Will Tucker offloaded to Ed Fidow to Kara Pryor and inside to Jack Heighton for a try, with the conversion pulled wide, 0-17.

Toronto answered back after a New York penalty with a quick tap by Ronan Foley and an offload to scrumhalf Cole Brown for a try and a Sam Malcolm conversion, 7-17.

New York kept moving the ball back and forth across the pitch and after a Kara Pryor break and offload to Jason Emery, Ed Fidow took the inside pass for his 9th try of the season, and a bonus point one for the standings. Heighton then added the extras, 7-24.

After a 50/22 kick, New York gathered the lineout, mauled and moved the ball right before a chip ahead stopped their attack, and ended the half after an Arrows knock-on.

Second Half

Rugby New York appeared to strike first in the second half after a Brendon O’Connor grub ahead with Jason Emery finishing. The TMO, however, showed that a forward pass occurred prior to the grub kick and resulted in no try being awarded and an Arrows scrum.

The Arrows would score first after a New York missed tackle on Ronan Foley and after his break, offloaded to Lolani Faleiva for his third try in two matches. Sam Malcolm then added the extras to cut the lead to 14-24.

Rugby New York tried to answer back with forwards’ attacks from close range, but a critical poach at the breakdown thwarted this opportunity. Toronto cleared then after a New York penalty, Malcolm slotted a penalty goal to bring the match to within a converted try, 17-24.

New York did not miss their next scoring chance from a lineout 5-meters out with Dylan Fawsitt scoring from a maul in the left corner, 17-29.

New York then added another highlight video try from an Ed Fidow break offloading to Jason Emery and Antonio Kiri Kiri flicking a pass to Connor Buckley, who sent the ball over his shoulder to Brendon O’Connor for a try in the left corner with Heighton having an off day with his boot, 17-34.

Fasi Fuatai would add a final try from an Heighton offload, and Sam Windsor slotted the conversion for a 41-17 win over the Toronto Arrows.

With the bonus-point win, Rugby New York improved their record to 8-4 and vaulted over Rugby ATL into second place in the MLR Eastern Conference with 42 points to 41 for ATL. Toronto’s record fell to 6-6 and is in fourth place with 30 points.

Toronto had two players make their MLR debut for the Arrows in Cole Brown and Sam Reimer, with Brown being named the Arrows’ Man of the Match. There is a reason for concern, however, as he was carried off the pitch with an apparent foot injury.

Rugby New York also had a debut by a former Super Rugby and All Blacks Sevens back row, Antonio Kiri Kiri, and also by former Kutztown University forward Peter Reyes. The team’s attack was stellar on the day with Ed Fidow scoring two tries (9 on the season) and was my Man of the Match.

Rugby New York will be back at JKF Stadium on Sunday, May 15 for a 3 pm match against the Seattle Seawolves. Preceding the match will be a Noon WPL Rugby match between New York Rugby Club and the San Diego Surfers.

The Toronto Arrows host the Dallas jackals on Saturday, May 14.