Life have complete control over the American Rugby Premiership with three matches to play in the Spring season after beating NYAC 26-7 in Marietta, Georgia on Saturday. NYAC was the only team to realistically be able to catch Life in the standings heading into the match but after a poor first ten minutes they saw that chance go missing. Life now hold a eight point lead over NYAC. For Life it was a great start to the season and it gives them an opportunity to run the table the rest of the way. NYAC will now focus on holding on to second place and a spot in the DI playoffs.
Penalties were a problem from NYAC throughout the day and it cost them early as AJ MacGinty slotted the easy kick for a 3-0 just a little more than a minute into the match. MacGinty was flawless from the tee all day nailing his six total kicks. However, he picked up what looked like a bad ankle injury toward the end of the match leaving his status for the Eagles upcoming camp and tour to South American unclear.
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After the penalty Life kept the pressure on and soon earned their first try. Taking the ball from a 15 meter line out the Life forward pack put in a nice driving maul allowing flanker Dave Gannon to pounce for the try. With the conversion Life led 10-0 with only eight minutes gone. MacGinty would add his second penalty at the 15 minute mark to extend the lead to 13-0.
It wasn't all positive for Life in the half as Phil Thiel was issued a red card roughly twenty minutes in. After the match there referee explained that Thiel hit the Life back low causing a tip tackle. However, any momentum NYAC could gain from the card was halted a few minutes later when John Quill was shown a yellow for NYAC. Going even in personnel allowed Life to settle down and when Quill came back on Life had adjusted enough to not let it impact the rest of the match. Quill's yellow exemplified NYAC's day. When they did have an advantage a penalty or an unforced error cost them the chance for points.
With 12 minutes left in the half Life added to their lead. A booming kick from fullback Blane McIlroy gave Life great field position. A few phases later the ball found the hands of Lance Cavanaugh who put in a few nice moves before finding the streaking Kyle Stroman for the try. MacGinty's conversion was once again spot on and Life led 20-7.
Back to 15 men NYAC were able to pick up their first points six minutes from the half. After Life spilled the ball in their own half substitute Toby L'Estrange picked the ball up and found the support Justin Hundley for the easy try. Chris Mattina would hit the conversion and the match would head into halftime at 20-7.
The second half was a much more even affair with both teams having long spells of possession. However, the defensive pressure, combined with the hot conditions, really prevented either team from getting anything going offensively.
MacGinty would have the only points of the half first nailing a long 40 meter penalty straight out from the posts and then a long, angled kick to make it 26-7. Both teams had their opportunities after the penalties, especially NYAC late in the match, but simple errors and good defense stopped any more points from being scored.
For Life, MacGinty, McIlroy, and Shaun Davies all had strong matches while Mike Petri and Justin Hundley were the dynamos for NYAC. Life were simply strong in more aspect of the day. They were more ambitious on attack, they used their set plays to full advantage, and hardly took their foot off the gas. NYAC didn't play poorly but they didn't seem to have the urgency that they should have had going into a much win match. If there was an area of strength for NYAC it was the play of Petri. For Life, losing Thiel hurt their scrum, something they'll need to address.
Life will now move to on to face the Wolfhounds next week in Boston while NYAC will host Boston.
Life 26Tries: Gannon, Stroman
Conversions: MacGinty (2)
Penalties: MacGinty (4)
NYAC 7Tries: Hundley
Conversions: Mattina
Life Starters: Demecus Beach, Dylan Fawsitt, Phil Thiel, Kyle Stroman, Tom Katzfey, Kris Headlee, David Gannon, Cathal Doyle; Shaun Davies, AJ MacGinty, Lance Cavanaugh, Colton Cariaga, Cornelius Dirksen, Clinton Whittler, Blane McIlroy;
Subs: Estevan Florez, Xander Daniels, Zach Walker, Jake Anderson, Hiko Malu, Gerson Blaise, Talib Clemente
NYAC Starters: Kirkland Hamilton, Patrick Fiffe, Ryan McTiernan, Nate Brakeley, Patrick Coleman, James Denise, John Quill, Al McFarland; Mike Petri, Justin Hundley, Kyle Granby, Shawn Verma, Troy Hall, Gareth Gibbs, Chris Mattina;
Subs: Peter Barrett, Neil McMillan, Stephen Sanchez, Paul Jarvis, Harrison Edwards, Toby L'Estrange, Tobias Henry
