Arrows Succumb to Atlanta Comeback in 2022 Fire and Ice Cup

News May-30-2022

Arrows Succumb to Atlanta Comeback in 2022 Fire and Ice Cup

The Arrows’ postseason hopes came to an end with a 34-23 loss to Rugby ATL at Silverbacks Park on Saturday afternoon.

John Sheridan and Ross Braude scored a try apiece and Sam Malcolm booted three penalty goals and two conversions as part of a run of 23 unanswered points, but a late first-half surge from the hosts, followed by stingy second-half defence, allowed Atlanta to secure the win, and with it a playoff berth.

Rugby ATL put the visiting Arrows under the pump right from the opening kick. With possession deep in Toronto territory minutes into the match, Daemon Torres and Matt Heaton were both stopped short from close range before Johan Momsen eventually muscled across under the posts for the seven-point try.

Now awoken after the early jolt, the Arrows responded with a penalty goal from Malcolm. The ensuing restart eventually saw the ball end up in the hands of Ronan Foley just outside his own try line, with the No. 8 evading a tackle to gallop 50 metres up to midfield. With pressure eased, Malcolm nailed another penalty shortly thereafter.

Momentum now building in the visitors’ favour, Toronto’s first try came two minutes later. Bruising runs from the forward pack brought the Arrows inside Atlanta’s 5, then wide passes from Malcolm and Matt Hood found Sheridan streaking in along the right sideline. The winger dove to the corner, and with arms fully stretched he was able to ground the ball before an acrobatic somersault. Malcolm struck the difficult touchline conversion to put Toronto ahead by six.

A third penalty from Malcolm followed, just before the Arrows capped their 23-0 run with their second try of the half. Lucas Rumball plucked the ball off the deck to secure possession following a long lineout throw. Snapping up the ball at the breakdown, Braude spotted a gap in Rugby ATL’s defensive line and sliced through for an untouched 30-metre run, scoring to the left of the posts. Malcolm’s conversion — his fifth goal of the frame — extended his side’s advantage to 23-7.

Down but not out, Atlanta fired back with two late first-half tallies. Substitute Tiaan Erasmus started the home team’s comeback by crossing over at the back of maul off an attacking lineout. Minutes later, Kurt Coleman danced around a pair of tackles to race in; the fly-half’s own conversion cut the deficit to two points heading into the interval.

The lead was regained by the hosts just a few minutes after the restart. Moving into Arrows territory, Te Rangatira Waitokia took a flat pass, burst through the gap and sped in for the bonus-point try. Coleman’s extras put the home side up by five, and the hosts wouldn’t look back.

The final half-hour saw the match grind to a near halt, with Atlanta snuffing out all sparks of Toronto creativity to ensure their lead held until the final whistle.

Penalty goals past the hour-mark from Coleman and Joaquin de la Vega Mendia made it a two-score game, and Toronto was unable to find a late breakthrough under the hot Georgia sun.

The 34-23 scoreline would hold till the end of the 80 minutes, keeping the Fire and Ice Cup in Atlanta for another year.

Toronto (8-7; 40 points) enters the final week of the season with a home clash against Old Glory DC (2-13; 18 points) on Sunday, June 5. The Arrows have taken down their rivals from the District twice so far in 2022: a 29-5 road win in Week 4, followed by a 32-27 home victory in Week 10. The Eastern Conference meeting at York Lions Stadium will kick off at 12 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available for purchase via AXS, the official ticketing partner of the Toronto Arrows, on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Single game tickets start as low as $15.

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Toronto Arrows Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Andrew Quattrin – 11
Carry Metres: Ronan Foley – 122
Tackles Made: Lucas Rumball – 20
Offloads: Ronan Foley – 4

Rugby ATL Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Daemon Torres – 15
Carry Metres: Daemon Torres – 117
Tackles Made: Johan Momsen – 11
Offloads: Five players – 2

Toronto Arrows Score Report:

Tries: John Sheridan (20), Ross Braude (29)
Conversions: Sam Malcolm 2 (21, 30)
Penalty Goals: Sam Malcolm 3 (10, 18, 25)

Rugby ATL Score Report:

Tries: Johan Momsen (4), Tiaan Erasmus (35), Kurt Coleman (39), Te Rangatira Waitokia (47)
Conversions: Kurt Coleman 3 (36, 40, 48)
Penalty Goals: Kurt Coleman (61), Joaquin de la Vega Mendia (65)