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The San Diego Legion came away 30-21 winners over the New England Free Jacks at Torero Stadium on Sunday. Despite the result, the Western Conference leaders looked disinterested for large parts of the match and squandered a 15-point lead before pulling away at the end.
Luke Burton popped over a penalty goal just five minutes in and the first try came soon after. A cross-kick from Burton landed in Save Totovosau’s waiting arms, the winger flying down the right side to score his second of the season.
Bad news hit San Diego when Nate Augspurger was carried off in the 12th minute. The inspirational leader tried to spin out of a tackle and was caught awkwardly, twisting his right knee. Devereaux Ferris came on at scrumhalf with Tevita Tameilau assuming the captaincy.
It was the opposite wing who would touch down next. New England spilled the ball in midfield and quick hands from Ma’a Nonu and JP du Plessis put Tira Patterson away down the left sideline. The conversion didn’t stick but the Legion were flying at 15-0 after just 18 minutes.
New England made the most of a rare scoring opportunity on the half-hour mark. Danny Collins and Mitch Wilson each came within millimeters of the touchline but managed to keep the ball in play, and with the Legion defense in casual mode Naulia Dawai sent Poasa Waqanibau clear from a two-on-one.
There was time for one more San Diego score before halftime. Tameilau and Psalm Wooching made hard yards from the scrum and then Ferris picked out an open Dylan Audsley for a try in the corner. It left the Free Jacks 20-7 adrift but there would be no surrender from the visitors.
A John Poland try early in the second half brought New England straight back into the game. San Diego were on their heels and conceded another penalty. Poland spotted the Legion’s defense completely unaware and with a quick tap won the race to the line. Timothée Guillimin landed the extras and suddenly it was a one-score game.
It would be 20 minutes before another score went up, and again it was the Free Jacks determined to play the spoiler role. Penalties cost the Legion field position and New England took advantage. Josh Larsen took the throw-in and Zack Stryffeler peeled around the poorly guarded blindside to score a try. Guillimin’s kick gave New England the unlikeliest of leads.
The score seemed to shock San Diego back into reality. Wooching broke clear from a lineout and found Ferris in support, the scrumhalf dashing into the corner to put the Legion back in front. Burton split the uprights with the conversion and added a penalty soon after to deny New England a losing bonus point.
San Diego’s next match will be against the Gold on Saturday afternoon in New Orleans. The Free Jacks are also on a short turnaround and stay on the West Coast with a match against the Seawolves in Seattle on Saturday night.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 30
Tries – S. Totovosau (8’), T. Patterson (17’), D Audsley (35’), D. Ferris (69’)
Cons – L. Burton 2/4 (9’, 70’)
Pens – L. Burton 2/2 (5’, 75’)
NEW ENGLAND 21
Tries – P. Waqanibau (30’), J. Poland (44’), Z. Stryffeler (66’)
Cons – T. Guillimin 3/3 (31’, 45’, 67’)
Pens – T. Guillimin 0/2
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Jamie Dever 52’), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 52’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Aaron Mitchell 59’), 4 Siaosi Mahoni (19 Ben Mitchell 51’), 5 Joshua Furno (23 Keni Nasoqeqe 59’), 6 Jasa Veremalua (20 Devin Short 77’), 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.) (22 Devereaux Ferris 12’), 10 Luke Burton, 11 Tira Patterson, 12 Ma’a Nonu (21 Ryan Matyas 67’), 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Dylan Audsley
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Simon Courcoul (17 Kyle Ciquera 73’), 2 Sean McNulty (16 Steven Hinshaw 76’), 3 Donald Brighouse (18 Quentin Newcomer 76’), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes (20 Evan Geist 71’), 6 Conor Kindregan, 7 Zack Stryffeler, 8 Naulia Dawai (19 Brad Hemopo 59’), 9 John Poland (21 Ollie Engelhart 71’), 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Deion Mikesell, 12 Sam Beard, 13 Poasa Waqanibau, 14 Danny Collins, 15 Mitch Wilson
Not used: 22 Peceli Rinakama, 23 Christian Adams
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
