NA Rugby Database

Recap

The 2023 Eastern Conference Eliminator saw the defending champion Rugby New York Ironworkers host Old Glory DC in their first every Championship Series appearance.

This started perfectly for the hosts, with Fa’asiu Fuatai scoring just 45 seconds in. The conversion was missed however and DC erased this lead shortly after, with William Talataina scoring and late addition Tito Diaz Bonilla adding the 2 to give the Flags an early 5-7 lead. Diaz Bonilla would add a pair of penalties to extend their lead to 5-13 shortly after the water break, before the tables started to turn. an Ironworkers maul was brought down illegally and thus a penalty try was awarded, as well as a yellow card for DC Captain Kyle Baillie. 6 minutes later, Lautaro Bavaro joined him for the same offence, reducing DC to 13 men and facing another relentless maul from the hosts, which was converted into a try by Dylan Fawsitt, and Sam Windsor added the two. Diaz Bonilla added another 3 from 40+ metres just before half-time to reduce the deficit to 19-16.

Fawsitt would strike again 10 minutes into the 2nd half, although not without controversy. He as carried over the line but appeared to be held up, and the ref agreed. The TMO did not, however, and intervened to award the try despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Windsor again added the 2 to stretch their lead to 26-16. This try made Dylan Fawsitt the 6th player in League history to record a multi-try game in the playoffs.

This decision seemingly lit a fire under the DC team, as they struck back with Kyle Baillie making up for his earlier mistake. A flurry of phases from Old Glory resulted in the big lock muscling over in the corner, with another excellent kick from Diaz Bonilla bringing the score to 26-23. DC stayed on the front foot, and a scrum infringement earned NY’s Sam Davies a yellow card, shortly followed by Tevita Langi after a 4th scrum penalty, prompting another Penalty Try, against the hosts this time.

DC lead 26-30 heading into the last 10 minutes and survived a heap of NY pressure, with Dylan Fawsitt spilling the ball in the hunt for his 3rd of the day. A turnover will a handful of seconds remaining was finished by Kurt Baker to secure the win for the visitors despite a consolation try from DaQuan Perry with the clock in the red. The Flags will advance to the Conference Finals to face the Free Jacks at Fort Quincy, while the Ironworkers head to the offseason and look towards 2024.