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The Toronto Arrows will face tougher foes as their second Major League Rugby season rolls on. But their opening act showed they’re ready to compete for a title.

The Arrows dominated the Austin Gilgronis 38-10 on Sunday. The Texas side made several changes from the team that finished 0-16 last season while the Arrows returned 26 of the 35 players that went 11-5 in their inaugural campaign.

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The Arrows have several Canadian players on the side, but it was New Zealand-born newcomer Richie Asiata’s hustle that set up the game’s first try from Uruguay-native Manuel Diana. After an Austin scrum infraction gave Toronto a penalty try, team captain Dan Moor finished a strong sequence for Toronto’s third score. Both teams traded penalty kicks in the first half including Toronto’s from Sam Malcolm as the visitors went to the locker room up 24-3.

Jamie Mackenzie sealed the game for Toronto early in the second half, snatching the ball out of a scrum and making the short run in. The teams traded tries the rest of the way, with Chris Schade getting a score for the hosts and Peter Milazza finishing things off for the Arrows.

Mackenzie, the starting scrum half and a former Canadian national team member, was satisfied with the team’s start to the year.

“We knew we had to start the season off strong,” the Oakville native said. “It’s tough starting on the road. It’s even tougher for us starting on the road for the first half of the season.”

“So we needed to make sure we set the tone early.”

The Arrows, who will not play in Canada until April, will head to Las Vegas for a match against the Houston SaberCats next Sunday. It will be one of four games at Sam Boyd Stadium that weekend as part of a league showcase.