NYM took on Lansdowne at Pier 40 on Saturday night and came away with a clinical 39-10 win. While coach Gianni Lopez was happy with the win he noted that the team needs to work on its rucking and ball retention, in particular getting the support runners to the breakdown more quickly so that penalties for holding on are put behind us. The score could have been more had we avoided this or the last pass not going to hand.

NYM vs Lansdowne, Pier 40, K.O. 7:30pm.

NYM 39 - Lansdowne 10.

The first half was a pretty attritional affair. NYM had plenty of the ball and the territory but could not convert it into points. Lansdowne came with a bigger pack that told at scrum time, giving NYM plenty of problems, but they couldn't keep up with the intensity of NYM in the loose, flanker Michael Bury having a particularly fine half. However, the last pass or holding on to the ball on the ground let NYM down time and again. Lansdowne seemed content to try and hoof the ball downfield and from one of the these the deadlock was broken. Brian Eastman fielded the ball at fullback and shipped it to left wing Danny Sonon who rounded one defender and broke a couple of tackles en-route to a 50m score. Lansdowne were able to come back into the game with a penalty but Dave Elwell replied in kind shortly before the end of the half to make it 8-3.

In the second half NYM continued their high octane game, giving the ball plenty of width going towards the River end but the same mistakes plagued them as in the first half. Eventually a sharp break up the middle from center Ryan McGarrity opened the scoring with him dotting down under the posts for a converted try. Shortly aftewards Matt Venzin stepped up to pick off an 8-man pick up and pass and race 60m for another converted try. Lansdowne managed to come back down with some good phase play into the City end and won a couple of penalties which they ran. Their large inside center eventually powered over for a converted try bringing the game to 22-10. NYM marched back up the field but couldn't find a way through. After a concerted period of pressure Lansdowne were penailized for not rolling away at the tackle and Dave Elwell banged over the penalty, 25-10. The backs then pulled off two of the best moves of the night to cap the game off. Ryan McGarrity gave a beautifully timed pass to Eastman coming into the line at pace. As he rounded the cover he showed a neat inside dummy to buy him the outside and go in for the try. Shortly afterwards the backs again gave the ball some width and Danny Sonon showed a clean pair of heels on the outside and a Tongan sidestep to the full back in the try-zone to round out the scoring with his second try of the night, Dave Elwell converting again. The game played out scappily at the death but NYM were pretty happy with the end result. 39-10.

1. Brian Tyler, 2. Nick Mastrogeorgiou, 3. Andrew Mezo, 4. Chris Hufferdine, 5. Scott Crafton, 6. Michael Bury, 7. Bastien Galand (65' Angel Rodriguez), 8. Brian Piantedosi, 9. Leandro Machado, 10. Dave Elwell, 11. Danny Sonon, 12. Matt Venzin, 13. Ryan McGarrity, 14. Saad Cecil, 15. Brian Eastman.

Tries: Sonon (2), McGarrity, Eastman, Venzin. Cons: Elwell 4/5. Pens: Elwell 2/2.

The B-side entertained Iona College who are well drilled and coached by ex NYM player Matt Persanis. Many of the A-side had to suit up again due to a lower than expected turnout. This resulted in a disjointed game from NYM and allowed the visitors to run their patterns, and in doing so they looked pretty impressive, as they should being a D1 college side. The final score was 46-17 to Iona.