Marcello Wainwright and his Toronto Arrows teammates scored early, often, and from all across the pitch in the club’s 64-31 win over the Utah Warriors.
Nine different Arrows scored Tr’ys in the emphatic victory at Zions Bank Stadium, which saw the travelling Canadians set multiple Major League Rugby records, most points scored by one team in a match (64) and most Try’s scored by one team in a match (9).
Not to be outdone by his nonet of teammates crossing the whitewash, fly-half Sam Malcolm accrued 19 points from the kicking tee. The New Zealand native was deadly with the boot, successfully kicking 90% of his shots at goal while racking up eight conversions and a penalty goal.
Toronto flew out of the gates in the seven-try first half, scoring three tries in the opening 15 minutes to build a 19-point lead. Prop Rob Brouwer, lock Mike Sheppard, and wing Dan Moor all dotted down before the Warriors had their first spell of possession in Arrows’ territory.
Sensing urgency, the hosts responded with three rapid-fire tries of their own to tie the match at 19-19. Flanker Jackson Kaka and wings Tonata Lauti and Fetuumoana Vainikolo all crossed over for Utah in a 10-minute span, though Lauti’s efforts to enter into the in-goal area was ultimately deemed a penalty try by match officials.
No. 8 Kolby Francis, a late addition to Toronto’s starting lineup, scored the visitors’ bonus-point try late in the opening half. The barging pick-and-go provided Toronto with a seven-point lead when entering the interval.
The Arrows’ second half began much like their first, with Toronto scoring yet another trio of tries in the early of the frame. Flanker Lucas Rumball, substitute No. 8 Wainwright and wing Avery Oitomen all put themselves on the scoresheet, with the teenage Oitomen scoring his league-leading sixth try of the season.
Utah’s Lauti and Toronto fullback Gaston Mieres traded tries before Warriors substitute Nolan Tuamoheloa added one of his own with a diving effort in the 65th minute.
A penalty goal from Malcolm and a try from substitute wing Kainoa Lloyd in the final minutes of the match capped off the strong team performance from the visiting Arrows.
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