Major League Rugby Updates: Week 3

History was made on Friday night in Texas when the Toronto Arrows earned their first ever Major League Rugby win. The 23-19 result over Austin Elite was far from easy. Absent nine players on Americas Rugby Championship duty and with a couple others unavailable, the Arrows also faced unusually cold temperatures and a biting wind on the slippery Dell Diamond surface.

Teenage flyer Avery Oitomen have it two tries from two appearances when Spencer Jones bumped off his opposite and finished off the textbook two-on-one. Austin fired back with a penalty goal and looked odds on for a try when both Sam Malcolm and Rob Brouwer were sent to the bin. With only 13 men on the pitch the Arrows scrum came up big and they cleared their lines as they welcomed Malcolm back.

Still down a man the Elite scored a long-range try from their speedy Chilean scrumhalf Marcelo Torrealba to give the home team a 10-5 lead at halftime. The two kickers would exchange points early in the second half but the Arrows scrum dominance was taking its toll on the Austin pack. A pushover try was touched down by Kolby Francis and the conversion restored the lead for Toronto.

Penalties from either side cancelled each other out but replacement scrumhalf Mickaël Romera nudged Austin ahead by one with his first kick of the game. With time winding down and the Elite pressing on attack, Toronto won a turnover and Jones thumped the ball downfield. Dan Moor, acting as captain for the game, raced down the pitch and charged down the clearance attempt, falling on the ball in-goal for the winning score.

The second game of the weekend saw the San Diego Legion come from behind to beat the Houston SaberCats 17-13 at Torero Stadium. Heavy underdogs heading into the match, Houston held a 13-3 at the break but couldn’t quite hold on as San Diego flyhalf Joe Pietersen inspired two late tries to pull out the victory in dramatic fashion.

Four Canadians were in action in New Orleans as the NOLA Gold played host to the defending champion Seattle Seawolves on Sunday. In a thrilling back-and-forth contest the Gold proved themselves top contenders, coming away 41-31 winners to continue their perfect start to the season.

Hubert Buydens was in top form for the Gold, winning a couple scrum penalties against the highly-rated Seawolves front row. Brock Staller started for Seattle, landing all five kicks at goal for a personal haul of 11 points. For the first time in franchise history Phil Mack was named on the bench though he would play the final half-hour and contribute to three tries. Geoge Barton also came on as a substitute and played 20 solid minutes as he continues to press for a starting role.

The results mean that NOLA are clear in first place with 15 points from three games, six ahead of second place San Diego. Toronto are now in third, tied with Seattle on six points with the Arrows just ahead by virtue of points differential.

Toronto will head to Seattle on Sunday for a highly anticipated contest that will feature several Canadians on both sides of the pitch. With a number of international players set to return and a sold-out crowd at Starfire Stadium it’s a key fixture for both sides with potential post-season implications. The match will be broadcast live in Canada on GameTV.

The only game on Saturday this week sees the return of Rugby United New York as they face the red-hot Gold in New Orleans. Other matches on Sunday include Utah at San Diego and the Glendale Raptors at Austin Elite. Those matches will all be streamed live on the official Major League Rugby Facebook page.

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

Rugby United New York at NOLA Gold

Saturday, February 16

Noon PT, 3pm ET

Utah Warriors vs San Diego Legion

Sunday, February 17

2pm PT, 5pm ET

Glendale Raptors at Austin Elite

Sunday, February 17

4pm PT, 7pm ET

Toronto Arrows at Seattle Seawolves

Sunday, February 17

5pm PT, 8pm ET