Round Eleven Recap
May 31, 2021 - Major League Rugby (MLR) News Release
Rugby ATL secured a dramatic victory over the LA Giltinis to stay on top of the East, while NewEngland secured a hard-fought win in the Battle for The North. A few other victors ran out to big score lines over the weekend. Get caught up on all the matches below:
New England Wins 14-12 to Keep Pace in the East
The New England Free Jacks held onto a 14-12 victory over the Toronto Arrows Saturday's match that was billed as "The Battle of the North." Beaudein Waaka got the scoring started with a penalty kick nine minutes in, then followed up with another to give New England the
early 6-0 advantage. Toronto responded with the game's first try, converted, to make 7-6 before Waaka's third PK made it 9-7 heading into the first hydration break. That score held for the next forty minutes before New England extended its lead with its first try of the game at 60'. The conversion bounced off the upright, though, a critical miss as it kept The Arrows just a converted try behind.
The Toronto backs showed off with some beautiful passage and key phases before the ball found Joaquín Tuculet for the score at 65'. This conversion was missed as well, and New England kept the slim 14-12 advantage heading into the final stand.
The Arrows threatened time and again through the waning moments but the Free Jacks' defense answered every challenge to deliver the victory. The win evens New England's record to 5-5, good for fourth place in the East. Toronto drops to 4-6 and is in last place in the Conference.
Rugby ATL Upends LA; Extends Win Streak to Five
Rugby ATL earned a 17-12 home win over the LA Giltinis Saturday night and has reached "Hotlanta" status with a scorching five-game win streak. Both teams have played great defense of late and had stellar performances on that end to deliver 22 minutes of shutout rugby to start
the match. Atlanta finally found space when its powerful maul sucked in the LA defense to temporarily hold the hosts out of the try zone. A big pass out wide found the streaking Adrian Carelse who dove to just dot the ball down in the corner. Carelse made the difficult conversion for a key two points in this intense affair.
LA came right back to DTH van der Merwre off a nifty switch play from the back of the scrum. Giltinis' Luke White then received a red card for foul play in the ruck at 35' and Atlanta spent the next five minutes putting the pressure on to try and take advantage. The hosts settled for three points off another penalty and headed into halftime up 10-5.
In the second half, reserve scrum half Ryan Reese scored off a beautiful offload by Bautista Ezcurra and the successful conversion extended the Atlanta lead to 17-5. Both defenses held for the next 29 minutes before barnstorming flanker Angus Cottrell scored for LA, Luke Carty slotted the conversion and the drama was set for the final moments LA kept possession and was banging on the door three minutes into stoppage time but the ATL defense refused to yield.
The hosts eventually earned the turnover and kicked the ball out for the statement victory.The win was a big one for Atlanta. Not only does it hold bragging rights amongst the conference's leaders, but it also keeps ATL on top of Rugby United New York by a point, 35-34. LA still holds a ten point lead out west.
Utah Uses Big First Half to Run Past Austin
The explosive Utah offense was too much for the Austin defense as the Warriors quickly built a 24-0 first half lead. Utah jumped up 10-0 early on but the key play of the match came at 24'. Down inside its own five meter line, the Warriors found Mika Krusé out wide.
That Te'o and Krusé connection hit yet again as Kruse found Te'o just before he was crunched out of bounds. Te'o found the streaking Michael Baska in support and the pair flipped the ball back and forth to each, befuddling Austin defenders.
A deflected Baska pass was deflected and recovered to put the Warriors just a couple of meters out, then Matt Jensen picked and crashed across the try line to finish this surefire contender for Try of the Year.
Austin opened up the second half with a penalty kick to get on the board but Bailey Wilson picked off a Gilgronis' pass to extend the Utah lead further. Austin did put in a few second half tries, but the damage was done as the Warriors finished off the 45-24 win. The win snapped a tie for second place in the Western Conference. Utah now stands alone, up five league points on Austin and has evened its record to 5-5.
San Diego Earns Vengeance over Houston for Second Straight Win
The San Diego Legion exacted revenge from an earlier loss to the Houston SaberCats, flipping the script for the 39-11 victory. After an exchange of a few penalty kicks early, San Diego #12 Tian Loots sparked the home team with a charge down and recovery for the game's first try at 21'.
Lock Josh Furno followed up after a break from the immortal Joe Pietersen got San Diego in attacking territory, and the rout was one. The Legion forwards struck again moments later at 32', then a penalty kick extended the lead to 25-6.
Things didn't get any closer for the SaberCats, who responded with a lone try as the Legion finished off the victory. San Diego now closes the gap for third place in the Western Conference to just two points behind the Austin Gilgronis.Next week's game versus Toronto will be a big one as the team tries to make a late rally for a playoff spot.
Rugby United New York Blows Past DC for Season Sweep
New York hit the road to visit Old Glory DC and completed the season sweep in a contentious affair. DC went down 27-10 early, but Old Glory was presented with its best opportunity to get back into it when New York saw two men sent to the bin before halftime.
The hosts looked like they were about to take advantage and close the gap for a little momentum before halftime when a beautiful series of play found Tevita Naqali for a break into the try zone. However, as he pointed to the sky in celebration before touching it down NewYork fullback Ben Foden streaked across the field and knocked the ball away.
That play sent the match into halftime and it got no closer for Old Glory as the visitors finished off a 46-10 win.
The win moves New York to just a point behind Rugby ATL for the top seed in the East and five points above idle New Orleans for the second seed.The loss puts a serious damper to the hopes of a late playoff push for DC, though with six games left the doors are still open across the Eastern Conference.
WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER DIEGEL FOR THE RUGBY NETWORK
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Major League Rugby Stories from May 31, 2021
- Round Eleven Recap - MLR
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