Toronto Arrows take first home win led by Sheppard

Strong first half helps rugby league club beat visiting Houston

Devyn Dinardo dressed up for the Toronto Arrows match against Houston SaberCats on Easter Sunday. Shannon Pakulis) 

The Toronto Arrows (5-5-0) won their first game at home when they beat the Houston SaberCats (2-8-0) 35-21 on Sunday afternoon.

Arrows were ahead 21-14 going into the second half until a penalty try was awarded to the SaberCats within five minutes of the second half due to an infraction in a scrum on the Arrows’ five-metre line evening out the score 21-21.

Arrows’ captain Mike Sheppard scored the fourth try for Toronto.. (Shannon Pakulis)

Arrows’ Mike Sheppard was not about to let the win slip away. He brought the score up for Toronto 28-21 about seven minutes later with his try and a conversion made by Guiseppe du Toit.

Kainoa Lloyd then solidified the win for Toronto 35-21 with his try at the end of the game where SaberCats were unable to get close enough to stop him.

Lloyd touched the ball down in the middle of the try zone allowing for an easier conversion made by du Toit.

Even though the Arrows struggled a bit in the second half they started the game off strong with lock Kolby Francis scoring a try less than five minutes into the game after an effective maul.

New Zealand native Sam Malcolm made his first conversion of the game for the Arrows.

Theo Sauder soon after put Toronto up five more points with his try 18 minutes into the game plus the conversion made again by Malcolm.

Fans cheer on the Arrows as they take a victory for their first time at home against the Houston Sabercats. (Shannon Pakulis)

With much help from his team hooker, Andrew Quattrin scored another try for the Arrows after a successful maul in the 29th minute of the first half which brought the score up to 21-0 for Toronto with Malcolm’s conversion.

About six minutes later the SaberCats scored their first try made by fullback Zach Pangelinan putting seven points on the board for Houston with the conversion made by Sam Windsor.

Just before the end of the first half the SaberCats brought the score up again, 21-14, with Pat O’Toole’s try and conversion made again by Windsor.

Devyn Dinardo dressed up for the Toronto Arrows match against Houston SaberCats on Easter Sunday.  (Shannon Pakulis)

Arrows now have 29 points after their bonus-point victory and remain in sixth position in the league while Houston remain seventh.

Toronto received four points for the victory and one bonus point for scoring five tries, four is the minimum amount of tries needed in order to receive the bonus point.

A win for Toronto wasn’t the only treat fans got this match, chocolates were given out as volunteers walked around with baskets filled with Easter eggs.

Many fans decided to take part in the Easter festivities, some even dressing up as bunnies.

The Arrows next go up against the Seattle Seawolves (8-3-0) on April 28, playing at York Alumni Stadium for the last time before they move to Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto.

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Posted: Apr 24 2019 8:47 pm
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