Toronto Wolfpack - 2019 Championship Season Rugby League
Toronto Wolfpack were too Strong and
Powerful for Visiting Swinton Lions Side
Swinton Lions vs. Toronto Wolfpack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sunday, April. 28, 2019
Lamport Stadium
Latest Updates and Team Form
The
Toronto Wolfpack return to Lamport Stadium nicknamed, the den on Sunday. This
was the first game back in Toronto since that heartbreaking loss to the London
Broncos last October in the Million Pound Game. The 10-1 Toronto Wolfpack looks
to extend their lead in the table to 4 points while the Swinton Lions have won
2 of their last 4 games. The Wolfpack are missing their leading try scorer
Matty Russell to an injury and their best player last year Liam Kay has not
played since his game against Halifax RLFC in the Super 8’s last year.
First Half – Wolfpack takes over late
in half despite strong performance by the Swinton Lions
The Wolfpack came flying at the start of the half, Nick
Rawsthorne scored a try as a result of a series of terrific passes from the
Wolfpack team, but was disallowed by the referee. The Wolfpack would get
another chance though as the Lions get penalized in the 5th minute. The
Wolfpack then a minute later scores with a pass from Nick Rawsthorne to Gareth
O’Brien. Blake Wallace fails to convert the kick and it is 4-0 Wolfpack after 6
minutes of play. The Wolfpack had another chance shortly afterwards, but
Anderson of the Swinton Lions stays strong and prevents a try from the
Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack keeps pressing though and gets a second try. First
Chase Stanley and Gareth O’Brien prevents a turnover. Then the ball is passed
to Andy Ackers, the hero of the next try as he did a back-hand pass that led to
a series of passes to Blake Wallace who gets the try and converts the easy
kick, 10-0 Wolfpack with only 8 minutes done in the game.
The Wolfpack were almost in trouble of giving possession
away and giving the Swinton Lions possession of the ball, but Gareth O’Brien
dives and catches the ball in the 14th minute. Swinton Lions tried
everything at the beginning including Ashton of the Lions trying to open play.
Ricky Leutele made a good kick pass to Nick Rawsthorne, but
Ericsson of the Lions was there to prevent try from the Wolfpack. The
Wolfpack’s possession was over when Harry Aaronson steals the ball from Nick Rawsthorne
who could not gather the ball in time.
The Wolfpack gets another possession and keeps pressing, but
a blocked kick from Blake Wallace. Bennion steals the ball and gives it to
Ashton for the easy try. Harry Smith converts the kick, and the Lions are back
in the game as the Wolfpack only lead by 4 points, the score is 10-6 for the
Wolfpack.
Swinton defense picks up after that try as they prevent a
try from the Wolfpack in the 29th minute.
With only 10 minutes left in the half though the Wolfpack
starts pressing again. It started with an Andrew Dixon tackle that got Wolfpack
possession. A warning sign is when Andy Ackers almost scored for the Wolfpack,
then in the 33rd Blake Wallace makes a terrific pass to Thompson who
stretched out to the touch line of the Lions and scores for the Wolfpack, Blake
Wallace converts kick for the Wolfpack and now it is a 16-6 game in the 33rd
minute.
The next try only a few minutes later started with an
excellent run by Leutele causing a Swinton Lions penalty resulting in a near
try for Ashton Sims. Then in the 38th minute, Andy Ackers does a
dummy pass before going through the Lions defense himself to score the try.
Blake Wallace converts another kick for the Wolfpack, and it is now 24-6
Wolfpack. Gavin Bennion then gets a yellow card and gives up a penalty to the
Wolfpack for a shoulder charge to Blake Wallace. The Wolfpack choose to kick
from halfway across the field and Blake Wallace converts the kick, 26-6
Wolfpack at the end of halftime.
Second Half – Wolfpack takes over the
Game
The Wolfpack comes into the second half blazing. They
started with a Gareth O’Brien pass to current captain Josh McCrone who makes a
terrific pass to Andrew Dixon for the easy try, Blake Wallace converts the kick
and it is a 30-6 Wolfpack lead.
Blake Wallace makes a good dive to save the ball and not
give up possession to the Swinton Lions, the Wolfpack gets possession again.
Then the Wolfpack scores again with a pass from Gareth O’Brien to Ricky Leutele
for the try, Wallace misses the kick conversion and it is 34-6 Wolfpack.
Then Leutele gets a good run in the 52nd minute.
This results in a try as Josh McCrone passes it to Ricky Leutele for a try.
Blake Wallace then converts another kick and it is now 40-6 Wolfpack.
Both teams then exchange possession as the Wolfpack gave up
a penalty but defended well against the Swinton Lions defense.
Then in the 63rd minute Bob Beswick kick passes
the ball forward for Blake Wallace for his second try of the game, with a kick
converted. Then four minutes later Bob Beswick finds Adam Higson with a pass to
score another try. Blake Wallace converts both kicks and the game I now 52-6
Wolfpack with 13 minutes left in the game.
Wolfpack then gets a bit sloppy with possession and commits
a few turnovers. Lloyd of the Lions makes a good play by dropping the ball for
Butt as he was carried out of play by four Wolfpack defenders. Butt then picks
up the ball and scores the easy try for the Lions, Harry Smith of the Lions
fails to convert on the kick and the score is 52-10 Wolfpack.
Wolfpack made a few errors near the end of the game and the
Lions were playing better defense, but it was too little to late and the
Wolfpack wins 52-10 at Lamport Stadium.
What is Next for the Toronto Wolfpack
The Wolfpack are going to play next Saturday against the
Barrow Raiders, where another record-setting attendance may be in store. After
that game on May 18th, they face against Toulouse Olympique at
Lamport Stadium, the only team they have lost to this season.
As for the Swinton Lions they play at home against the
Widnes Vikings on May 5th and then travel to Rochdale to face the
Hornets on May 18th.
Wolfpack Sets Attendance Record
Toronto Wolfpack sets Attendance
Record
The Wolfpack has set an attendance record at Lamport
Stadium. This is very impressive as there are four new teams in the Golden
Horseshoe in 2019. According to the Hamilton
Spectator, York 9 FC and Forge FC of Hamilton played at Tim Hortons with an
attendance of just over 17,000 in the inaugural match of the new Canadian
Premier League (CPL), but even more impressive was the Wolfpack’s
attendance happened even with the presence of the Toronto Arrows, a
professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby. The Arrows have played
three games at Vaughan and will play most of their remaining home games at
Lamport Stadium including a game on the same day as the Wolfpack. The other
team yet to play yet is the Hamilton Honey Badgers, which plays in the new
Canadian Elite Basketball League that is starting next week.
Swinton Lions
Tries
Matthew Ashton 1
Mike Butt 1
Conversions
Harry Smith 1
Toronto Wolfpack
Tries
Blake Wallace 2
Andy Ackers 1
Andrew Dixon 1
Adam Higson 1
Ricky Leutele 1
Gareth O’Brien 1
Tom Olbison 1
Bodene Thompson 1
Conversion
Blake Wallace 7
Penalties
Blake Wallace 1
Liam Kay Makes Triumphant Return at Lamport Stadium
Bradford Bulls vs. Toronto Wolfpack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, May. 4, 2019
Lamport Stadium
Liam Kay Makes Return to the Toronto Wolfpack after
Injury
Liam Kay makes his first long-awaited
return for the Wolfpack after getting injured against Halifax in the Super 8’s
qualifiers last year and a return to Lamport Stadium nicknamed “the Den.”
First Half – Wolfpack Gives Up a
Large Lead Late in the First Half
The first half starts with Sam Holes
chipping Liam Kay 1:34 mark and Wolfpack are rewarded with a penalty. The
Wolfpack started the game attacking and the Bulls defense was put on distress
right from the get-go.
Liam Kay offload to Leutele then to Joe
Mellow to Nick Rawsthorne. A series of successive passes almost led to a try,
but Nick Rawsthorne was prevented by Nick Ryan of the Bradford Bulls with excellent
defense.
The Wolfpack keep on the pressure though as
Joe Wilkin’s pass was intercepted. Adam Sidlow makes a good strong run into the
Bulls half, then Josh McCrone makes a terrific pass to Andrew Dixon, but
slipped and let the chance go begging in the 8th minute of the game.
Halas makes a good run. Nick Rawsthorne is
again found to be the open man open but was stopped again by the Bulls defense.
However, the Wolfpack’s onslaught would
prove too much for the Bulls defense as a series of terrific passes starting
with Bob Beswick to Josh McCrone to Gareth O’Brien to Nick Rawsthorne results
in the easy try in the 12th minute of play. Gareth O’Brien fails to
convert though, and the Wolfpack leads only by 4-0 despite the possession the
Wolfpack have had so far.
The Wolfpack continue their good play
though and force the Bradford Bulls out of their line causing a turnover and
stealing the Bulls possession for themselves. The Wolfpack finally scores their
second try of the game through several passes which included McCrone and
Stanley who passed it to Rawsthorne who made no mistake went in head strong and
scored a try for the Wolfpack, Gareth O’Brien converts kick and it is 10-0
Wolfpack over the Bulls. Then Wilkins makes a perfect kick giving the Bulls
possession but deep in their end of the field.
The Wolfpack also gets a break as the Bulls
Bradford Johnston fumbles the rugby ball giving Wolfpack back possession. This
proved to be costly for the Bulls as offload passes starting with D’Arcy
Lussick to Gareth O’Brien to who then passed to Adam Sidlow who made a
turnaround move to the Bulls defender to score the Wolfpack’s third try, kick
does not convert 14-0 with 13 minutes left in the first half.
The Wolfpack though give up the ball and the
Bulls get possession back. This proves to be costly and Ross Peltier pushes
through the Wolfpack defense and scores, Miachello converts kick and it is now
14-6 Wolfpack.
Then before the first half ends, Johnson
draws a penalty for his Bradford Bulls side. Sam Hallas to Rowan Milnes with
the strong run and pass to score the easy try, the kick is converted, and the
Wolfpack give up most of the lead before the first half ends 14-12 to the
Wolfpack.
Second
Half – Wolfpack Ends Game with 3 Tries in Just 11 Minutes
The Wolfpack like the first half, enter the
second half blazing, with Mullaly almost scoring for the Wolfpack. Then
Thompson creates a cleaver forward kick pass, but Joe Mellor could not get it
in time as Bradford Bulls player Ethan Ryan touches the rugby ball a second
before and prevents the Wolfpack a try in the 49th minute. Wolfpack
had another glorious chance to score in the 51st minute but Andy
Ackers was held up by the Wolfpack defense.
A few minutes later Gareth O’Brien
exploited the space given by the Bulls and gives it to Chase Stanley for the
try. Chase Stanley then converts the kick making it 26-12 Wolfpack.
Then Adam Sidlow makes a good tackle
causing a turnover from the Bradford Bulls team. Jon Wilkin then gives it to D’Arcy
Lussick who then offloads it to Gareth O’Brien for the try, O’Brien also
converts the kick and it I 32-12 Wolfpack in the 67th minute of
play. Three tries in 11 minutes won the game for the Wolfpack.
Manufella has good possession for the Bulls
and Grant takes full advantage, scoring for the Bulls, Joe Mellor’s kick was
off-target, 32-16 Wolfpack.
But there was going to be one more try as
Rawsthorne gets possession back for the Wolfpack, Olleison commits the
turnover. Joe Mellor kick pass to Liam Kay who made a terrific dive for the try
and in the dying minutes of the game scores his first try since being injured
last year, O’Brien does not convert and It ends with a 36-16 Toronto Wolfpack
win.
What
is Next for the Bradford Bulls and the Toronto Wolfpack
The Toronto Wolfpack will not be back to
Lamport Stadium until June 15th. They will have an important game on
May 18th, named the Summer Bash in London, England where they will
face Toulouse Olympique XIII, the only team so far to have defeated the Toronto
Wolfpack this season, then six days later the Wolfpack will face the Sheffield
Eagles on May 24th.
This is while the Bradford Bulls will play
on May 18th and then travel home on May 26th to take on
the Featherstone Rovers.
Bradford Bulls RLFC
Tries
Dalton
Grant 1
Rowan
Milnes 1
Ross
Peltier 1
Conversion
Elliott
Minchella 2
Toronto Wolfpack
Tries
Nick
Rawsthorne 2
Liam
Kay 1
Ricky
Leutele 1
Gareth
O’Brien 1
Adam
Sidlow 1
Chase
Stanley 1
Conversions
Gareth
O’Brien 4
Toronto Wolfpack Gets Revenge on
Toulouse Olympique XIII
Toronto Wolfpack vs. Toulouse
Olympique XIII
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, England
Saturday, May. 18, 2019
Bloomfield Road
News
The two top teams in the Championship
meet at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, England. The Wolfpack are 4 points ahead of
Toulouse Olympique XIII for top spot of the Championship but lost badly with 40
unanswered points given up against Toulouse in France.
First Half – Toronto Wolfpack Dominates Toulouse Olympique XIII
Adam Sidlow collects the kick-off as the
game goes back and forth for the first two minutes of the game.
Wolfpack played good defense which included
carrying the Toulouse Olympique XIII player to their touch line, creating a turnover
and a change of possession for the Wolfpack. Nick Rawsthorne dropped the ball,
but then Toulouse’s Johnathan Thornton could not get the ball preventing an exchange of possession.
Gareth O’Brien and Liam Kay makes a mistake
as miscommunication causes confusion as both players did not try to aggressively
catch the ball as a result, the Wolfpack had to concede a drop-out and give
possession back to Toulouse Olympique XIII. Then another mistake is created
when Liam Kay commits a penalty, allowing Toulouse Olympique XIII to take the
two early points through a penalty and now lead 0-2 over the Toronto Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack though gets another chance as
a Toulouse player Plouchee commits an illegal tackle on Nick Rawsthorne. The
Wolfpack make sure Toulouse paid for their mistake as the Wolfpack makes an
excellent set of passes to Gareth O’Brien for the easy try. O’Brien converts
kick and it is 6-2 Wolfpack over Toulouse Olympique XIII.
A little later in the game D’Arcy Lussick
great tackle pressured Toulouse to kick the ball out of play creating
possession back for the Wolfpack. The Wolfpack retains possession, but Andy Ackers
loses the ball straight after though in the 23rd minute.
The Wolfpack though gets the ball back
straight afterwards and Gareth O’Brien creates a forward kick pass to Josh
McCrone, who gets the ball and scores another try for the Wolfpack in the 23rd
minute of play making it 12-2 Toronto with a converted kick from Gareth
O’Brien.
Toulouse struggled a lot in the first half
as they commit another turnover by kicking the ball out of play. Wolfpack again
takes advantage of Toulouse’s mistakes. Again, the Wolfpack’s passing and selfless play led to Chase Stanley converting the try, the kick was converted,
and it is 18-2 Wolfpack after 27 minutes of play.
The Wolfpack adds one more try before half
time where a connection of passes from Josh McCrone to Andrew Dixon to Chase
Stanley for the easy try, but kick was not converted making it 22-2 Wolfpack.
Stanley saves the Wolfpack from trouble as
he catches the ball and prevents a try. However, Ashton Sims very quickly gave
up the ball. Gareth O’Brien also prevents a try from Toulouse in the 36th
minute.
The Wolfpack could also not break through
at the end of the first half as Toulouse’s defense prevents Andy Ackers from scoring a try just before the first half ends.
Second Half – Toulouse Starts and
Ends Strong but Toronto Seals the Deal with 5 tries
Toulouse starts off the second half with a
try where Johnathan Thornton passes it to Bretherton to get a try, Mark Kheirallah
converts the kick and it is 22-8 Wolfpack with 8 minutes into the second half.
Wolfpack almost responded two minutes later,
but Toulouse played good defense and created a Wolfpack turnover from Bob
Beswick in the 50th minute.
Bob Beswick almost scored but Toulouse plays
good defense.
However, Toulouse cannot deny the Wolfpack
forever as D’Arcy Lussick performs and executes a spin inside the posts scoring
him a try in the 60th minute, Beswick converts kick and it is a 28-8
Wolfpack lead as they again lead by 20 points. Then 5 minutes later Josh
McCrone passes it to Gareth O’Brien and then Chase Stanley for his third try,
kick is converted, and it is a 34-6 lead for the Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack then gets possession back in
the 69th minute as Gareth O’Brien does an excellent with linking the
pass to Nick Rawsthorne for another Wolfpack try in the 71st minute,
kick is converted, and it is now a 40-8 Wolfpack game with only 9 minutes left
in the game.
Then Toulouse commits a penalty in the 78th
minute creating a penalty for Gareth O’Brien, who converts, it is now a 42-8
Wolfpack.
Toulouse though gets a try in the last play
of the game as Rhys Curran makes a good drive to the try line to end the game. Kheirallah
converts the kick and it ends with Wolfpack winning 42-14.
What is Next?
According to the
Toronto Wolfpack website, the Wolfpack will be in England for
three more weeks as they will face the Sheffield Eagles at Olympic Legacy Park
on May 24th then face the Swinton Lions at Heywood Road before
coming back to Lamport Stadium to face the Dewsbury Rams on June 15th
and Toulouse Olympique XIII on June 22nd
Toulouse Olympique XII website also shows
their next few games. This is while Toulouse will host Leighs Stade
Ernest-Aigles on May 25th then travel to home at Stade Ernest-Aigles
then goes back to the road against the York City Knights, and then go back home
against the Swinton Lions. Then the next two games they will travel to Canada
to face the Wolfpack on June 22nd and then to Craven Park back in England to face the Barrow Raiders.
Toronto Wolfpack
Tries
Chase Stanley 3
Darcy Lussick 1
Josh McCrone 1
Gareth O’Brien 1
Nick Rawsthorne 1
Conversions
Gareth O’Brien 6
Penalties
Gareth O’Brien 1
Toulouse Olympique XIII
Tries
Joe Bretherton 1
Rhys Curran 1
Conversions
Mark Kheirallah 2
Penalties
Mark Kheirallah 1
Toronto
Wolfpack Puts Away Sheffield with an Impressive First Half Performance
Sheffield
Eagles vs. Toronto Wolfpack
Sheffield,
England, United Kingdom
Friday,
May. 24, 2019
Olympic
Legacy Park
News
The Toronto Wolfpack are back are playing their first of two
road games in England before setting off back to Canada on June 15th.
This match against the Sheffield Eagles is a good test as they are in the top
half of the Championship table.
The Wolfpack are on the top of the table with three-four
months left until the end of the season. The Wolfpack are looking comfortable
at first place and looking to sustain their place at the top of the table in
order to qualify for semi-finals of the Championship playoffs.
First
Half – Wolfpack Dominates Against the Sheffield Eagles
Gusteg tackled in his own zone. Blake Wallace starts the
onslaught by pushing through the try line and scoring in the 5th
minute for the Toronto Wolfpack, the kick is converted 0-6 Wolfpack. Ryan
Miller impeded with an illegal challenge by Adam Sidlow in the 8th
minute.
There was a knock-on play by Farrell, giving the Wolfpack possession
at the 8th minute. Ricky Leutele made a good off-load to Liam Kay drawing
a penalty from the Swinton Lions. Adam Dixon to Gareth O’Brien then to Adam
Dixon with several excellent passes that led to the great try, kick is
converted by Blake Wallace 0-12 Wolfpack with 13 minutes played into the game.
Winger could not make a tackle on Gareth Brien which
resulted in a Blake Wallace tackle
Leutele gives up the ball in a tackle with the Sheffield
Eagles.
Thackery attracts Darcy Lussick and then give to Davies is a
forward pass in the 15th minute but was penalized for a forward
pass.
Blake Wallace makes a good run. The Wolfpack keeps pushing
as they get another try with consecutive passes from Andy Ackers to Darcy
Lussick to Jon Wilkin to Adam Dixon for the 17th minute try, Wallace
converts the kick and it is now 0-18 with only 17 minutes played in the first
half.
Some good plays were also done in this game as Chase Stanley
saved the ball from going out of bounds and keeping it Wolfpack possession in
the 17th minute.
Andrew Dixon overran Chase Stanley who committed the
turnover. Walker then turns over the ball because of a strong tackle from Jon
Wilkin giving Wolfpack possession.
Andy Ackers runs hard in the 25th minute, which
proved important in the next set as the Wolfpack scores a try. Gareth O’Brien
passes it to Liam Kay from the right to the left side in the 26th
minute to score another try, the kick is converted, and it is a 0-24 lead for
the Wolfpack.
Then shortly after Jon Wilkin passes it to Ashton Sims then
to Andy Ackers to Josh McCrone then to Andrew Dixon who does the finishing pass
to Chase Stanley for, yet another try in the 29th minute, kick was
not converted 0-28 Wolfpack
Davies gives the ball up to the Wolfpack. Sheffield gets the
ball back through a penalty in the 34th minute as the Wolfpack
commits a forward pass. It is now Sheffield possession where Walker’s tackle
forces Gareth O’Brien into an error in the 37th minute.
Just before halftime though the Eagles score their first
try, Ben Helliewell and Zachery pass the ball to each other resulting in a
Helliewell try, Pat Walker does not convert, and the first half ends 4-28 in
favour of the Toronto Wolfpack.
Second
Half – Wolfpack stays the Course and Wins Comfortably against the Sheffield
Eagles
Just like the first half, the Wolfpack opens the second half
with a quick try just four minutes into the game. A Gareth O’Brien forward kick
pass to a diving Leutele who scores on the Eagles try line, Wallace misses the
kick, and it is a 4-32 lead now for the Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack does not stop there though as McCrone and
Russell makes a good run in the 48th minute resulting in a knock-on
call in favour of the Wolfpack. As a result Blake Wallace passes it to the left
side of the field as Nick Rawsthorne converts the try, but Wallace misses
another kick, 4-36 Wolfpack.
Josh McCrone catches the ball. The Eagles started to play
better in the 51st minute. Thackery passes the ball to Josh Guzdek
for the try, Pat Walker converts kick and it is 10-36 Wolfpack.
Thackery kicked the ball outside of play giving the Wolfpack
possession back in the 55th minute.
However, a mistake by Sheffield gave the momentum the other
way. Adam Sidlow offloads it to Andy Ackers for the try, this time Blake
Wallace converts the kick 10-42 Wolfpack with only 20 minutes left in the game.
The Wolfpack would get another chance to score later in the
game but Mullaly was held up by the Sheffield Eagles defense.
It was Sheffield that striked with the last try, with
Bradley Knowles with a terrific try through the Wolfpack defense.
However, it was too little too late, the Toronto Wolfpack
defeats a Sheffield Eagles squad on their home field that is currently third in
the Championship this year, a tremendous effort by the Toronto Wolfpack and
their players.
What is Next
The Wolfpack will not play until Sunday May 9th where
they will take on the Swinton Lions on Heywood Road before going back home to
face the Dewsbury Rams on May 15th and Toulouse Olympique XIII on
May 22nd.
The Sheffield Eagles will also play on Sunday May 9th,
where they will host the Featherstone Rovers at Olympic Legacy Park before
playing on the road at Mount Pleasant to face the Batley Bulldogs.
Sheffield
Eagles
Tries
Josh Guzdek 1
Brad Knowles 1
Ben Hellewell 1
Goals
Pat Walker 2
Toronto
Wolfpack
Tries
Andrew Dixon 2
Andy Ackers 1
Liam Kay 1
Ricky Leutele 1
Nick Rawsthorne 1
Chase Stanley 1
Blake Wallace 1
Goals
Blake Wallace 5
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