Nine-Try Arrows XV Secure Triumphant Return Home

A darkening sky, steady wind and a spattering of rain provided the backdrop for the first Toronto Arrows game back in Canada in 867 days.

The new-look York Lions Stadium played host as an Arrows XV side welcomed the Atlantic Selects for an exhibition matchup this past Saturday. The Arrows lineup featured a mix of senior players, academy members, and local standouts, while the visiting Selects showcased top regional players from the Maritimes and Newfoundland.

The occasion, dubbed the ‘Rugby Rally’, marked the organization’s first true home fixture in two-and-a-half years — almost 20,800 hours — after a ball was last kicked competitively by the Arrows north of the Canada-USA border.

As if to counter the grey sky, the first 10 minutes provided a frenetic start with both the Arrows and Selects coming close to scoring. The Arrows thought they had broken the deadlock with centre Andrew Norton crossing over after a slick passing play. The celebrations were short-lived as TMO Jonathan Kaplan stepped in, judging there to have been a knock-on in the build-up.

Rain Impacts the Game Early On

Toronto showed a threat with ball in hand early on, but steady rain wreaked havoc with the ball slippery at the worst times. As the rain subsided at the mid-point of the first half, the Arrows turned more to their running game.

It would prove to be a warning sign for the Selects, and the Arrows wouldn’t have to wait much longer to make the initial breakthrough. Once again, Norton was the man to cross the try-line, and this time the points would count.

The game stayed close for much of the first half, with the Arrows threatening but never quite pulling away. The Selects put three points on the board through the boot of Johnny Cullen, but their comeback would be short-lived.

Outside centre Mitch Richardson scored Toronto’s second try of the game to give the Arrows a deserved 14-3 lead at half time.

A Tale of Two Halves

The second half was a wholly different story as the Arrows came out firing under the floodlights. What was a 14-3 lead quickly became a dominant 33-3 advantage just 12 minutes into the second frame.

Fullback Mitch Voralek‘s speed created a gap in the Selects defence, starting a brilliant move from the Arrows own 22-metre line. Voralek’s break caused the visitors to scramble before some exquisite hands from Richardson guaranteed the Arrows’ third try.

The Arrows pressure was unrelenting. Just minutes later and fresh from bench, Mason Flesch delivered a devastating hand-off before galloping down the line for Toronto’s fourth try of the evening, converted by Will Kelly.

Toronto’s fifth try would come soon after. Prop Rob Brouwer benefited from a set line-out play as the pack forced its way over. Kelly narrowly missed the subsequent conversion, but the Arrows held an impressive 38-3 lead 15 minutes into the second frame.

It wouldn’t all be smooth sailing for Toronto, as Ollie Nott received a yellow card in the 59th minute, reducing the Arrows to 14 men for 10 minutes. However, Toronto handled the numerical disadvantage well, moving the ball quickly and still causing the east coast side problems.

It was the quick-ball movement that would undo the Selects once again. Norton scored the Arrows sixth — and his second — try of the contest 68 minutes into the game. Still down a man, the Arrows took a 45-3 lead.

East Coasters Strike Late

The Selects cut their handling errors down in the second half, and continued to force the Arrows into tackles. It was in the 75th minute that they made the breakthrough they were looking for.

Off a quick tap on the Arrows five-metre line, quick-thinking No. 8 Liam Carter bulldozed across to score the Selects. The conversion further reduced the Arrows lead, making it 45-10.

Two late tries from the Arrows served as exclamation points for the home side, with forward Siaki Vikilani first trotting over the line to make it 50-10 three minutes before time. Then just before the final whistle, replacement Liam McLaughlin battled through five Selects tackles to score.

Will Kelly added some gloss to the final score with another conversion — his sixth of the contest — to take the final score to 57-10 for the Arrows. In the end, the Arrows XV’s class was telling.

A Long Time Coming

Much has changed in last 867 days. Last time the Toronto Arrows played in Canada, American rapper Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road was spending its seventh week at No. 1 on the charts, Andy Ruiz Jr. had just dethroned Anthony Joshua for the three heavyweight belts and Godzilla: King of the Monsters ended the weekend as the top movie.

Arrows rugby, however, has changed little. As was the norm during this season’s Major League Rugby campaign, the Arrows had a tireless defence that provided the platform for their devastating attack.

The Atlantic Selects were valiant, but it was a tall order against an impressive Arrows XV team backed by a boisterous 1,247-strong crowd.

Special mention has to go out to the newest member of the Toronto Arrows team, Archie the Raccoon. A loveable mascot clad in Arrows gear, and unveiled at halftime, Archie stole the show and the crowd’s hearts.

So much has changed in the time between the last Arrows game and this one, but on a cool October evening at the northern edge of the city, the Toronto Arrows lined up at the halfway line, the whistle blew, and everything fell magically back into place.

 

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Toronto Arrows XV Score Report

Tries: A. Norton (2), M. Richardson (2), B. Ferguson, M. Flesch, R. Brouwer, S. Vikilani, L. McLaughlin
Conversions: W. Kelly (6)

Atlantic Selects Score Report

Tries: L. Carter
Conversions: T. Jarman
Penalty Goals: J. Cullen

Toronto Arrows XV Lineup

1. Rob Brouwer
2. Jack McRogers
3. Marc-Antoine Ouellet
4. Hank Stevenson
5. Ben Jones
6. Ollie Nott
7. Marcello Wainwright
8. Matt Fish
9. Andrew Ferguson (C)
10. Will Kelly
11. Brandan Ferguson
12. Andrew Norton
13. Mitch Richardson
14. John Sheridan
15. Mitch Voralek
16. Sam Mace
17. Julian Alexander
18. Darby Bradley
19. Mason Flesch
20. Siaki Vikilani
21. Cole Brown
22. Liam McLaughlin
23. Mitch King

Atlantic Selects Lineup

1. Alex Forrest (C)
2. Sean Doyle
3. Phil Lanthier
4. Nigel Bannister
5. Jordan Montgomery
6. Seif Sanad
7. Sheldon Cudmore
8. Liam Carter
9. Johnny Cullen
10. Lucas Shortall
11. Dexten Fox
12. Tom Jarman
13. Jesse McKay
14. James Duguid
15. James Mitchell
16. Mike McEachern
17. Eddie Mahar
18. David Mallard
19. Pat Davis
20. Brandon Power
21. Barnaby Dunscombe
22. Cameron Pope
23. Sam Newhook

About the Author:

Oliver Smith is writer, podcast host and sports fanatic. Growing up in London, England, he moved to Toronto in 2010 before graduating with Honours at Queen’s University. He has been a sports writer since 2019.  Reach him on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Header Photo Credit: David Chant