Arrows Stage Late Comeback to Draw Rugby ATL

News May-13-2023

Arrows Stage Late Comeback to Draw Rugby ATL

A late penalty from Shane O’Leary capped a spirited Arrows comeback against Rugby ATL on Friday evening, with the home side rallying in the final 20 minutes to earn a 34-34 draw in the Eastern Conference clash at York Lions Stadium.

Avery Oitomen, Mitch Richardson, Ross Braude and D’Shawn Bowen scored a try apiece for Toronto, while O’Leary, who was a perfect four-for-four from the tee, added 10 points.

Rugby ATL jumped out to an early lead on the warm spring night, building a 17-0 advantage ahead of the first-half hydration break through tries from Matt Heaton and Alex Maughan that sandwiched a Duncan van Schalkwyk penalty goal.

A clever, looping spiral kick from O’Leary was the impetus for the Arrows’ response. The ball ricocheted off van Schalkwyk in the fly-half’s catch attempt and bounced kindly for a racing Oitomen; the winger plucked it up in full stride and trotted in unimpeded for his first MLR try since Toronto’s inaugural season in 2019. O’Leary had no trouble with the conversion, and added a late penalty goal to make it a seven-point game at the interval.

The Arrows brought the game level in the opening stages of the second half. Lolani Faleiva snatched an errant pass and charged into Atlanta territory with Richardson eventually finishing the fluid attack by darting in under the posts, marking the centre’s second try in as many matches.

The pendulum soon swung back in Rugby ATL’s favour, as rapid-fire tries from Jack Shaw and Rewita Biddle, both converted by Martini Talapusi, sent the visitors ahead 31-17.

Down but not out, Toronto began its comeback march through some well-worked finesse from the backs. Quick hands from Richardson and Tautalatasi Tasi sprung Kobe Faust along the touchline, with the winger drawing in the last defender before freeing Braude to finish the play. O’Leary’s conversion into the wind reduced the deficit to seven.

The Arrows were hit with a double-whammy with 15 minutes remaining: Isaac Salmon was sent to the bin for a tackle infringement and Talapusi booted a short-range penalty on the ensuing play to make it a 10-point game.

Reduced to 14 men and requiring a moment of magic, Toronto found it when Mason Flesch smartly scooped up the loose ball at the breakdown just inside his own half. The ball was cycled to Bowen along the right touchline, and the explosive winger weaved inside en route to diving under the posts for a seven-pointer.

O’Leary’s late penalty came just as Salmon returned to the pitch, and a final push from the visitors was passionately rebuffed by the hosts with the backing of the vocal home crowd.

Lucas Rumball and Travis Larsen both produced standout performances in their milestone half-century match. Club captain Rumball, who paced the team in defensive arrivals (9) and racked up 19 tackles (100% completion), has played all 50 games with the Arrows – becoming only the third player to hit the milestone with the club, following Paul Ciulini and Mike Sheppard – while Larsen, who led the team in tackles (22; 100% completion) and carry metres (108), previously featured for Austin (15 matches), DC (5), San Diego (8), and Seattle (17) before joining Toronto ahead of the 2023 season.

Will Grant and Tyler Wong made their first starts for the club.

Twelve Arrows were unavailable for the game due to injury.

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Toronto enters Week 14 of the 2023 season with a home clash against Old Glory DC on Thursday, May 18. The Arrows hold a 4-2 all-time record against the Flags, though the Canadians will be looking to snap a two-match losing skid against their American counterparts.

The Victoria Day long weekend kickoff clash at York Lions Stadium will begin at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase via AXS, with single game seats starting as low as $20.

Toronto Arrows Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Four Players – 7
Carry Metres: Travis Larsen – 108
Defenders Beaten: D’Shawn Bowen – 3
Tackles Made: Travis Larsen – 22
Offloads: Tautalatasi Tasi – 2
Attacking Breakdown Arrivals: Lolani Faleiva, Travis Larsen – 15
Defending Breakdown Arrivals: Lucas Rumball – 9

Rugby ATL Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Will Leonard – 16
Carry Metres: Will Leonard – 133
Defenders Beaten: Niall Saunders, Austin White – 3
Tackles Made: Te Rangatira Waitokia – 11
Offloads: Te Rangatira Waitokia – 4
Attacking Breakdown Arrivals: Justin Basson – 28
Defending Breakdown Arrivals: Matt Heaton – 9

Toronto Arrows Score Report:

Tries: Avery Oitomen (33′), Mitch Richardson (48’*), Ross Braude (61′), D’Shawn Bowen (67’*)
Conversions: Shane O’Leary 2 (34′, 62′)
Penalty Goals: Shane O’Leary 2 (39′, 77′)
* = seven-point try

Rugby ATL Score Report:

Tries: Matt Heaton (3′), Alex Maughan (15′), Jack Shaw (51′), Rewita Biddle (53′)
Conversions: Duncan van Schalkwyk 2 (4′, 16′), Martini Talapusi 2 (52′, 54′)
Penalty Goals: Duncan van Schalkwyk (7′), Martini Talapusi (66′)