Arrows Earn First Win of 2021 with Five-Try Performance Against Old Glory

With files from The Rugby Network

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Toronto Arrows looked a far cry from the 2020 version that led the Eastern Conference. Sitting at the bottom of the standings with one league point, securing five points in DC seemed a tall order as the team headed to play an Old Glory squad coming off a big home victory from the week before.

Toronto quickly flipped the script with a try from prop Tyler Rowland just 11 minutes into the match. The Arrows took firm grasp of the early momentum two minutes later when #8 Manuel Diana picked from the back of the ruck off a break, broke a tackle, and bowled through for the score. Fly-half Tayler Adams nailed this conversion to make it 12-0. Adams was good again with a penalty kick at 19’ to extend the lead to 15-0 just before the first hydration break.

Old Glory needed the breather and their defense held Toronto off the scoreboard for the next 20 minutes before their offense finally struck just before halftime. Captain Thretton Palamo took “crash ball” literally and laid waste to defenders on his way over the try line. DC tried to play the kickoff out of its own end, however, and turned it over in stoppage time. Adams hit a drop goal to end the first stand with his team up 18-7.

The home team was in a similar situation a week ago before a dramatic comeback delivered victory. Toronto squashed that notion early with a try just after the break, as Ben LeSage found the gap in the defense and scored under the posts to make it 25-7.

Old Glory gave itself a chance by closing the gap to 25-12 with plenty of time to play at 59’. The Arrows delivered the knockout punch moments later, however, as some good pursuit and a nifty pop off the ground eventually found its way to wing Gaston Mieres. Toronto ran the score up to 37-12 through a try from Jason Higgins before DC responded. A last-minute penalty kick from Will Kelly brought the match to its final line, 40-19.

Two Arrows earned their MLR debuts on Saturday evening, with Ross Braude and Liam Murray picking up their first caps.

Toronto enters Week Four of the 2021 season with a clash against Los Angeles (2-0; 10 points) on Saturday, Apr. 10, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. ET.

Toronto Arrows Stat Leaders

Ball Carries: G. Mieres – 12
Carry Metres: G. Mieres – 129
Tackles Made: T. de la Vega – 21
Offloads: B. LeSage – 5

Old Glory DC Stat Leaders

Ball Carries: M. Mason – 17
Carry Metres: R. Roberts-Tenana – 126
Tackles Made: M. Mason – 11
Offloads: T. Palamo – 5

Toronto Arrows Score Report

Tries: T. Rowland (11), M. Diana (13), B. LeSage (41), G. Mieres (65), J. Higgins (67)
Conversions: T. Adams 2 (14, 68)
Penalty Goals: T. Adams (18), W. Kelly (80)
Drop Goals: T. Adams (40)

Old Glory DC Score Report

Tries: T. Palamo (39), J. Fa’anana-Schultz (58), J. King (78)
Conversions: D. Tusitala 2 (39, 79)

Toronto Arrows Lineup vs. Old Glory DC

1. Cole Keith
2. Andrew Quattrin
3. Tyler Rowland
4. Adrian Wadden
5. Paul Ciulini
6. Tomas de la Vega
7. Lucas Rumball (C)
8. Manuel Diana
9. Ross Braude
10. Tayler Adams
11. Gaston Mieres
12. Guiseppe du Toit
13. Ben LeSage (C)
14. Mitch Richardson
15. Joaquin Tuculet
16. Jack McRogers
17. Pat Lynott
18. Liam Murray
19. Mike Sheppard
20. Kolby Francis
21. Jason Higgins
22. Will Kelly
23. Pat Parfrey

Header Photo Credit: Andy Jillson