NEWS
RUGBY NEW YORK BEAT THE SEATTLE SEAWOLVES 30-15 TO WIN THE MLR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Written b y Joe Harvey | Top Picture by Davey Wilson
On Saturday afternoon, Rugby New York lifted the MLR Shield for the first time in their history, beating two-time champions the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
Nearly 90°F on the east coast, it was the Seattle Seawolves that began the game in front of a majority New York crowd in New Jersey. AJ Alatimu kicked off the game, the Seawolves regaining possession shortly after and working their way towards their hosts’ try line.
Photo by Davey Wilson
Moving the ball from touchline to touchline, Martin Iosefo was sent over the whitewash as scrum-half, JP Smith, opted to move the ball from right to left, hard carrying from the forward pack opening up space out wide, a pinpoint pass from Alatimu seeing his teammate home.
Alatimu was unable to add the conversion, the missed place kick opening the door to New York, who hadn’t quite found their rhythm with just three minutes played. Marty Veale’s side would be let into the game partly thanks to the player that pegged them back just minutes earlier.
Photo by Davey Wilson
Unable to field a high ball, Iosefo’s error opened the door to New York, who moved the ball to their left wing, Brendan O’Connor’s grubber kick towards the in-goal area cleared up by Ross Neal but giving New York a scrum five meters out.
The resulting set piece was where the breakthrough came from, Will Tucker barreling over to score while Jason Emery added the conversion. Shortly after a penalty for Alatimu, as well as a penalty miss from Emery, New York extended their lead thanks to a penalty try, their powerful maul and infringements from the Seawolves extending the hosts’ lead further.
Photo by Davey Wilson
With Seattle’s Rhyno Herbst in the sin bin, New York made the most of their man advantage. Not too far removed from an opportunity that saw Faasiu Fuatai knock the ball into touch, a break down New York’s left wing saw former All Black, Andy Ellis, reach over the try line to place the ball down with Neal tracking the 38-year-old down.
With no further scoring between the break, it was New York’s game to lose thanks to their 11-point lead. It was a lead they weren’t able to extend in the opening period of the second half, as Seattle stopped multiple opportunities for their hosts to score.
Photo by Davey Wilson
Eventually New York would get the scoreboard moving again, a penalty for Emery preceding a try for replacement prop, Nic Mayhew. Perhaps the try of the game, the New Zealander had two involvements in the move, firstly receiving Will Tucker’s offload and despite keeping the ball alive, fed the ball to O’Connor, who in turn found Mayhew with another offload.
Emery could not convert the try and would have felt slightly uneasy as Seattle hit back with a try. Sam Matenga was the scorer, the tighthead prop breaking through two blue shirts to conclude a move that involved a lung busting carry from Travis Larsen down the middle of the field.
Photo by Davey Wilson
Not long after his brother was yellow carded for not rolling away at the ruck, 2019 hero Brad Tucker had a score disallowed for a double moment, handing New York the ball back with just shy of 15 minutes left on the clock.
Marching down to the opposite end of the field, New York’s first MLR title was confirmed thanks in no short order to a Sam Windsor drop goal, the league’s all-time leading points scorer kicking the points to win the competition for the first time
Recent Posts
Offseason Talking Points: News From Across MLR
Written by Joe Harvey Even in the offseason, Major League Rugby has
USA Eagles Pacific Nations Cup Recap
Written by Will Hooley Eagles Settle For 4th Place After Late Samoa
Meet The 2024 MLR Draft’s Third Overall Pick: Calvin Ihrig
Written by Joe Harvey With the third overall pick of the 2024
A Statement from Major League Rugby:
The Dallas Jackals have informed the league that they will not participate
Meet The 2024 MLR Draft’s Second Overall Pick: Neil Trainor
Written By Joe Harvey | Photo by Hector Perez Anthem RC selected
Categories
- Anthem RC
- Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Games
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- League Announcements
- Miami Sharks
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- New York Ironworkers
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Playoffs
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- Rugby FC Los Angeles
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- September 2024 (7)
- August 2024 (14)
- July 2024 (22)
- June 2024 (42)
- May 2024 (29)
- April 2024 (39)
- March 2024 (37)
- February 2024 (5)
- January 2024 (6)
- December 2023 (5)
- November 2023 (4)
- October 2023 (5)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (7)
- July 2023 (19)
- June 2023 (43)
- May 2023 (41)
- April 2023 (46)
- March 2023 (27)
- February 2023 (17)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (7)
- October 2022 (7)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (14)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (64)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- November 2020 (1)
- September 2020 (4)
- August 2020 (6)
- July 2020 (10)
- June 2020 (3)
- May 2020 (4)
- March 2020 (16)
- February 2020 (19)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (17)
- May 2019 (32)
- April 2019 (39)
- March 2019 (28)
- February 2019 (54)
- January 2019 (31)
- May 2018 (2)
- April 2018 (1)