Seattle Defeat Ironworkers in Season Opener
February 28, 2023 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Rugby New York Ironworkers News Release
The Ironworkers dropped their season opener to the Seattle Seawolves by a score of 25-11 at Starfire Sports Stadium on Saturday. The game was a rematch of last year's MLR Final, which saw the Ironworkers crowned as champions for the first time in team history.
Match Recap:
First Half
Seattle took control early on with a penalty goal three minutes in. Another penalty goal shortly after would give them a 6-0 lead 12 minutes into the match.
The rest of the half saw teams trading penalty goals. New York's first points of the season came from a Sam Windsor kick around the 14-minute mark to cut the deficit 6-3. A penalty goal by Seattle at the 21-minute mark would make it 9-3, but New York struck back with a penalty goal of their own as time expired in the half to keep the deficit at three. It was a defensive-minded half as neither team could muster a try.
Second Half
The defensive play continued to stand out in the second half, as the first points were from another Seattle penalty goal at the 45-minute mark.
In need of a spark, the Ironworkers cut the deficit to one with the game's first try at the 56-minute mark. Windsor's busy day continued as he led Ed Fidow with a beautiful pass. Last season's try leader did the rest and took it past the try line for the Ironworkers' first try of the season.
Holding onto a 12-11 lead, Seattle would halt New York's comeback attempts. Two more penalty goals made it 18-11, and the Seawolves would score their first try of the game, and of the season, nearing the game's end to make it 25-11.
It was a hard-fought battle that saw the two teams jockeying for position without allowing either team to get many chances at the goal lines.
Onto The Next:
The Rugby New York Ironworkers will play their first home game of the season against the Toronto Arrows this Sunday at 3pm. It will be their first-ever match at Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon
Major League Rugby Stories from February 28, 2023
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