Rugby New York Advances to Eastern Conference Final
Rugby New York (#3 in the East) defeats Rugby ATL (#2 in the East) by the score of 26-19 in the Eastern Conference Eliminators on Saturday.
FIRST HALF – PENALTY KICK BATTLE
Both teams came out intent to turn penalties into points. Jason Emery connected with a penalty kick at the 5-minute mark to put New York on the board first. Emery would click on two more penalty kicks at the 20th and 28th-minute marks, respectively. New York forcing turnovers while backed up in their own territory proved to be clutch in preventing tries. New York went into the second half leading 9-6 after Rugby ATL answered with two penalty kicks of their own
SECOND HALF – SEALING THE DEAL
New York refused to let Rugby ATL keep the momentum, and they came out the gates in attack mode. Within the first possession, New York was on the penalty advantage, looking for a penalty try. On the second attempt, New York got their feet moving on the maul and eventually powered through for the game’s first try. Rugby ATL would cut the 16-6 New York lead down to 16-12 after two more penalty kicks.
However, New York would put the dagger in at the 73-minute mark. Attempting to break through Rugby ATL’s defense, New York was able to roll in for the try on a punishing maul anchored by Dylan “The Butcher” Fawsitt. Emery’s conversion put them up 23-12, and his penalty kick minutes later made it 26-12. Rugby ATL scored their first try of the game three minutes into extra time, but it proved to be too little too late with the final score being 26-19 New York.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Dylan Fawsitt was everywhere under the Atlanta lights, putting in a huge shift. Starting at Number 8 and moving to Hooker in the second half of the match, The Butcher stuffed the stat sheet with 1 try, 10 tackles, 1 intercept, 2 line breaks and 3 defenders beaten.
ONTO THE NEXT
With the win, New York is now on the road to New England in a meeting with the first-seeded Free Jacks. The game (Sunday 6/19) is a rematch of New York's Round 18 win and will crown the Eastern Conference Champion. Let's go!
By Jason Piccolomini
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Eastern Conference Final 2022
Rugby New York v New England Free Jacks (Sunday 6/19, 3PM)
Watch LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (Domestic) and The Rugby Network (International)
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