Written by Joe Harvey Photos by the Toronto Arrows
The Toronto Arrows’ 2023 campaign has not started in quite the way that the team would have hoped. After four games, the side has won just once, their most recent result a 29-3 loss at the hands of Old Glory DC on the road.
New to the side this season is Mitch Eadie. At 30, Eadie brings nearly 13 years of professional rugby experience, the Englishman having represented English Premiership clubs Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints before his arrival in Major League Rugby.
A versatile back-row forward, Eadie has taken to life alongside Lucas Rumball and Mason Flesch well, although results have not gone the team’s way.
Photo by the Toronto Arrows
“It’s actually really positive,” Eadie said of the squad’s mindset, “seeing as we’ve come off a few losses. We’ve been reviewing the games in bits and bobs; the leaders have been going through it, and we’re actually not that far away.
“We pretty much need to take our opportunities more. We haven’t been the most successful in scoring points when we are in the red zone.
“I think that is probably one thing that the leaders and the coaches have probably said to us; that if we get in the red zone, we actually need to come away with points and score tries.
“That’s probably one thing we are looking to work on the next few weeks and especially around the forwards set-up as well.
“We probably need to score a few more maul tries and really assert our dominance there, so it has actually been really positive. It is not the start we wanted, but fingers crossed we can turn it around this weekend.”
GETTING THE BALL ROLLING
Last week’s defeat to Old Glory was the second time in 2023 that Toronto has been unable to reach double digits. Suffering the same fate in their face-off with the Rugby New York Ironworkers in week two, it has certainly been a chastening start to the new season.
Photo by Paris Malone
That is not to say that there have not been any positives. Traveling to SeatGeek Stadium in their third game of the season, the side was thrust to victory thanks to fly-half Sam Malcolm, the New Zealander kicking penalties, drop goals, tries, and a conversion to win 26-27 in the Midwest.
The @TorontoArrows have picked up their first win of #MLR2023 in a wildly exciting clash against @HoundsChicago.
Check out the full match highlights!
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