Waaka stars as Free Jacks spoil New York home opener

A masterful performance from Beaudein Waaka led the New England Free Jacks to a 38-29 win over Rugby New York on Sunday afternoon. The sold-out crowd at JFK Stadium in Hoboken was treated to an entertaining contest but the visitors were happy to play spoilers in what was New York’s home opener.

It was a bright start for the home side. The first score began deep inside New York territory as Andrew Coe regathered a Connor Buckley box kick. Jason Emery, Will Tucker, and Ed Fidow all made ground and then Sam Windsor’s cross-kick to Coe was caught in spectacular diving fashion for a try. Windsor landed the conversion from a tough angle to make it a full seven.

New England fired straight back. Two half-breaks from a set move earned territory and Slade McDowall picked a line between two defenders to crash over for the try. Beaudein Waaka added the extras, but it wasn’t long before Windsor nudged the home side back out in front with a penalty goal.

Waaka himself popped up to take a short pass over the line from close range as New York’s discipline came under the microscope. Kalolo Tuiloma jabbed Free Jacks captain Josh Larsen in a scuffle after the whistle and the big prop was fortunate to escape with a penalty only.

The Free Jacks went straight back on the offensive and were making strong territory, but Benjamín Bonasso ripped the ball away and took off down the right side. His arm reached over the top of the last defender to find a streaking Coe in support, the winger sprinting the final 40 meters to score against the run of play.

Another foray from the visitors into New York territory nearly yielded a try just before halftime but the defense held the ball up in-goal to force a drop-out. Play continued beyond the allotted minutes but no further scoring would come with the home side holding a one-point lead into the break.

The lead would change twice in the first five minutes of the second half. Waaka intercepted a Windsor pass to race in under the posts for his double, but New York won the restart and a wide ball from Jack Heighton found Brendon O’Connor in space to score in the corner. Windsor again made good from a difficult angle.

A penalty goal from Waaka put the visitors back in pole position just before the second hydration break. Shortly after Emery cut clean through the line but his pass to Fidow in support didn’t go to hand and the Free Jacks cleared their lines.

The turning point came with 10 minutes to play. McDowall slammed into Quinn Ngawati and the ball was flung into New York’s in-goal. The grounding gave New England an attacking scrum, and after several phases Joe Johnston muscled over from close range with Waaka’s kick making it a two-score game.

Replacements also made their mark with the Free Jacks front row earning a scrum penalty, and then Waaka sliced through a gap near halfway to swerve past the defense for his hat trick. New York were too far back but there was time enough for Emery and Fa’asiu Fuatai to send Jack Heighton home for a bonus point try to end the game.

It’s a home opener for New England next Saturday as they welcome the Toronto Arrows to Veterans Memorial Stadium. New York stay in Hoboken to play the San Diego Legion on Sunday.

 

SCORING

NEW YORK 29
Tries – A. Coe 2 (8′, 35′), B. O’Connor (44′), J. Heighton (80′)
Cons – S. Windsor 2/3 (9′, 45′), J. Heighton 1/1 (80′)
Pens – S. Windsor 1/1 (16′)

NEW ENGLAND 38
Tries – S. McDowall (11′), B. Waaka 3 (22′, 42′, 77′), J. Johnston (70′)
Cons – B. Waaka 4/4 (12′, 23′, 71′, 78′), No kick (42′)
Pens – B. Waaka 1/1 (56′)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Zak Taulafo 57′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Wilton Rebolo 57′), 3 Kalolo Tuiloma (18 Nic Mayhew 45′), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Will Tucker, 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Joe Basser (20 Pago Haini HT {22 Ishmail Shabazz 72′}), 8 Brendon O’Connor (19 Charlie Hewitt 59′), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Andy Ellis 45′), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Ed Fidow (23 Quinn Ngawati 67′), 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Jack Heighton

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Alex Johnston (16 Pieter Jansen 37′), 2 Foster DeWitt (17 Kyle Ciquera 59′), 3 Tevita Sole (18 Erich de Jager 50′), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Stan van den Hoven (19 Reegan O’Gorman 50′), 6 Joe Johnston, 7 Slade McDowall (20 Cam Davidowicz 71′), 8 Terrell Peita (23 Mills Sanerivi 57′), 9 John Poland, 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Harry Barlow, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Jack Reeves (22 Harrison Boyle 59′), 15 Mitch Wilson

Not used: 21 Holden Yungert

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Will Nelson (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)