Legion win battle over Warriors at Zions Bank

It was no easy victory for the San Diego Legion at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday evening. A determined Utah Warriors side gave the Major League Rugby table-toppers plenty to think about but ultimately came up short in a 31-21 battle that all but clinched San Diego’s spot in the Semi Finals.

The match started at a furious pace. San Diego looked to be over on their first attack but Jordan Manihera knocked on in the act of scoring. Utah countered with a searing break from their own end, James Semple freeing Don Pati down the right wing. Back came the Legion and Manihera did not make the same mistake twice, reaching out of the tackle to ground the ball successfully.

After the two sides settled down somewhat, the Warriors manufactured a response. Discipline was already hurting the Legion and with Matt Jensen dominant in the air, the lineout was the chosen course of action. From nearly 20 meters out the drive began and it didn’t stop until Jeremy Leber was over and the game was tied.

San Diego wasted no time in firing back. Their own driving maul gained ground and Nick Boyer looped around from his off-wing to create the overlap on the right side. Semple was left to choose between Mike Te’o and Save Totovosau and it was no contest as Te’o gave his right winger a clear run-in to the end zone for the simplest of tries.

A critical moment came before the break. Semple stuck out an arm to break up a San Diego attack and was sent to the bin for his troubles. From the ensuing scrum it was almost a carbon copy of the previous try as Te’o pulled in the defense and sent Totovosau into the corner for his second try. Tai Enosa couldn’t land the conversion but the Legion were 10 points to the good.

Despite being a man down, the opening minutes of the second half belonged to Utah. More penalties were conceded by San Diego and eventually the referee lost patience and sent Pat Blair to the bin. The defense held, however, and when the Legion stymied a maul Paddy Ryan came on with Dino Waldren sliding into the hooker spot. Enosa cleared from the scrum and the immediate danger was over.

Utah were relentless and two half-breaks from Jeremy Misailegalu put them back into San Diego territory. Another penalty gave them an attacking lineout and while the drive was stopped short, Johnny Ika broke off the back and dipped under two tackles to cross for the score.

The ending was just as frenetic as the beginning. A bit of individual brilliance from Nate Augspurger saw the scrumhalf follow Ika’s lead to break from a maul and step clean through the defense. Utah weren’t out of it yet, however, as John Cullen took an inside ball from Semple to gallop under the sticks.

Suddenly just three points down, the Warriors were determined to throw everything at the Legion from their own end. Unfortunately they threw it to the wrong man. Te’o read Tim O’Malley’s intentions from a mile away and the free pass brought the curtains down on the contest.

San Diego are now five points up on NOLA and virtually assured a Semi Final spot. They can clinch not only their spot but first overall with a bonus point win over the Gold in San Diego on Sunday. Utah have two games left starting with Saturday’s home match against the Houston SaberCats.

 

SCORING

UTAH 21
Tries – J. Leber (23’), J. Ika (58’), J. Cullen (77’)
Cons – T. O’Malley 3/3 (24’, 59’, 78’)
Yellow cards – J. Semple (38’)

SAN DIEGO 31
Tries – J. Manihera (9’), S. Totovosau 2 (26’, 39’), N. Augspurger (74’), M. Te’o (79’)
Cons – T. Enosa 1/3 (10’), W. Holder 2/2 (75’, 80’)
Yellow cards – P. Blair (47’)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (18 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 64’), 2 Jeremy Leber, 3 Angus MacLellan (16 Alex Tucci 69’), 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams (19 Les Soloai 60’), 7 Ara Elkington, 8 Arthur Bergo (20 John Cullen 56’), 9 Johnny Ika, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Don Pati (21 Fetu’u Vainikolo HT), 12 Tim O’Malley (capt.), 13 Gannon Moore (23 Joseph Nicholls 64’), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu (22 Josh Whippy 59’), 15 James Semple

Not used: 17 Metai Tu’imoala

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia 49’), 2 Pat Blair, 3 Dino Waldren (18 Paddy Ryan 57’), 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Keni Nasoqeqe, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Drew Gaffney (18 Paddy Ryan 49’-57’), 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Tai Enosa, 11 Nick Boyer, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Conor Kearns, 14 Save Totovosau (21 Will Holder 59’), 15 Mike Te’o

Not used: 16 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 20 Devin Short, 22 Nick Lupian, 23 Kyle Rogers

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Moe Chaudhry (RC) & Kage Green (USAR)