NYAC claims sole possession of first place in the Northeast in the final game of the fall portion of the Division 1 season, defeating Boston RFC 28-26 in a game that was close all the way. Old Blue ran out easy winners in the other game on the day, pulling away from a 29-15 halftime lead to beat Middlesex 84-25.
In the highly anticipated game in Amesbury, MA, Boston drew first blood with the breakaway by full back Duran Vota, who offloaded to supporting running Atoa Ripley for an early try, converted by Niko Ratumaitavuki for a 7-0 lead.
NYAC got their first try of the day through # 8 Alastair McFarland, a short range effort after a series on the Boston line. The conversion was no good, and mid way through the half, Boston’s Ratumaitavuki added to the Boston lead with a short range penalty.
Another break by Vota again threatened the NYAC line, but a try saving tackle by Neil McMillan ensured Boston would have to settle for another Ratumaitavuki penalty for a 13-5 Boston lead. Boston has had the better of the recent exchanges, effectively counter rucking and unleashing some enterprising back line play.
NYAC’s David Neville reduced the gap with a long range penalty, and NYAC’s best period of the half followed. NYAC knocked on over the try line following a 5m scrum, but finally winger Kyle Granby takes a pass from Tom Coolican and scores between the posts. The conversion puts NYAC in front for the first time right on halftime, 15-13 the score to NYAC.
The second half starts well for Boston, first Vota had a nice break before he was denied by another McMillan tackle, and shortly thereafter Boston’s entire back line seemed to have a hand in taking advantage of a NYAC turnover, with Ratumaitavuki touching down to regain the lead for Boston.
NYAC immediately responded however, with Gareth Gibbs getting a try in the corner, and the score is tied 20-20.
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Boston wins the restart and forces a NYAC penalty, which Ratumaitavuki slots to regain the lead. NYAC has another good patch, featuring some hard running and eventually Kirkland Hamilton pops up and scores in the corner.
With ten minutes left, NYAC kicks away possession to the dangerous Boston back three, and Boston capitalize, forcing another penalty which Ratumaitavuki hits to put Boston back in front. However NYAC’s Neville hits an almost identical three pointer to regain the NYAC lead.
With time winding down, Boston has NYAC under pressure and has an opportunity to regain the lead with a penalty attempt, but the kick is off the mark and NYAC is happy to bundle the ball into touch to wind up the exciting game.
“It was a really good game of rugby, and if you were a spectator you probably enjoyed it much more than I did” commented Boston’s Mike Diamantopoulos “NYAC has the ability to really crank it up in the second half, and there I thought we did an OK job. Where we really struggled was our ability on kickoffs, I think they won every one of their kickoffs to us…so that really put us under a lot of pressure. On first phase where we had quality ball we were really good, we had plenty of line breaks and plenty of go-forward, we just didn’t produce enough of those moments”
NYAC’s coach Federico Rienhardt said “it was a tough game, a hard game, both teams played really well, I think the team that made the fewer mistakes won. Our defense was not as good as we want, we missed a few tackles, but it’s fine, it is part of the game. We had a great season, we are missing a lot of players but our depth is growing, everyone who came into the game stepped up so I am very proud of these guys, it was a great season and hopefully it will keep getting better”.
With the win, NYAC is in sole possession of first place, four points ahead of Boston as the league wraps up play for the fall. The games will start up again March 29 2014, interestingly enough with these two teams facing off again, as well as Middlesex hosting Old Blue and Mystic River hosting White Plains.