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The San Diego Legion defeated the NOLA Gold 22-10 on Sunday evening to clinch first overall in the regular season and home field advantage for the Championship Series. In doing so they also brought the curtains down on NOLA’s season, the early season contenders losing their fourth straight to crash out of the playoff picture. An impressive crowd was on hand at Torero Stadium to take in the match though an official attendance number was not immediately available.
Two late changes damaged the Gold’s confidence before kickoff. Kyle Baillie and Scott Gale both dropped out, replaced by Nikola Bursic and Taylor Howden. An early penalty goal from JP Eloff seemed to reassure the side, but things started to go downhill at the half hour mark.
San Diego started to press after the hydration break with their defense shutting down all of NOLA’s best attacking efforts. A break came when Joshua Furno snatched up a loose ball, the new man connecting with Jasa Veremalua who in turn put Conor Kearns into space. They were stopped short but the Gold could not escape their own end. Eventually the pressure yielded the game’s first try as Paddy Ryan barged over from close range.
New Orleans suffered another blow as captain Eric Howard was forced off. They earned an attacking lineout but Con Foley’s long pass was picked off by Furno, who again found Veremalua in close support and this time the Fijian needed nobody else to pass to as he touched down under the sticks for seven.
The killer blow came early in the second half. Ryan’s huge cutout pass put Kearns in space, which was followed up by strong runs from JP du Plessis and Ryan himself. The Legion were relentless as Kearns and then du Plessis were stopped just short. Finally it was Mike Te’o who picked and powered his way over from short range.
A huge breakout from Nick Feakes gave hope to the Gold and eventually led to their first and only try. Soft hands from Kane Thompson put Nikola Bursic through a gap and he beat two more on the way to the line.
That would be the last say for the visitors. Joe Pietersen landed a penalty goal for insurance and the dominant Legion defense reigned supreme until the final whistle sounded.
The loss means that San Diego will advance to a home Semi Final against Rugby United New York next weekend. New Orleans begin their off-season before they had hoped, and are left to ponder what might have been in the six months until the preseason begins.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 22
Tries – P. Ryan (33’), J. Veremalua (38’), M. Te’o (45’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 2/3 (34’, 39’)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (62’)
NEW ORLEANS 10
Tries – N. Bursic (51’)
Cons – J. Eloff 1/1 (52’)
Pens – J. Eloff 1/1 (5’)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (16 Nathan Sylvia HT), 2 Kapeli Pifeleti (17 Pat Blair 63’), 3 Paddy Ryan (21 Dino Waldren 63’), 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua (18 Siaosi Mahoni 68’), 7 Psalm Wooching (19 Keni Nasoqeqe 63’), 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.) (23 Tai Enosa 76’), 11 Nick Boyer, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Conor Kearns (20 Will Holder 73’), 15 Mike Te’o (22 Save Totovosau 52’)
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (18 Kevin Sullivan 73’), 2 Eric Howard (capt.) (17 Cam Falcon 34’), 3 Ross Davies (16 Hubert Buydens 47’), 4 Nikola Bursic (20 John Sullivan 76’), 5 Billy Stewart (19 Kane Thompson 47’), 6 Ignacio Dotti, 7 Zack Stryffeler (21 Moni Tonga’uiha 47’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert (22 Michael Baska 68’), 10 Taylor Howden, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 Con Foley, 13 Tristan Blewett, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 JP Eloff
Not used: 23 Joeli Tikoisuva
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Paul-Henri Courbier (USAR) & Austin Reed (USAR)
