San Diego wins ferocious battle with New York

The San Diego Legion held on to win a ferocious contest over Rugby United New York by a score of 24-20 at Torero Stadium on Sunday. It was a match that won’t be remembered for attacking rugby, with much of the game resembling a brawl between the two forward packs.

It was a fast start for the home side. They jumped out to a 10 point lead that was started by a penalty kick from captain Joe Pietersen. A try was next on the menu as Ryan Matyas served up a classic outside center break, sending Tira Patterson free to the corner when the cover was forced to commit.

New York came storming back, responding with interest. Their scrum pulverised the Legion en route to a penalty try. No conversion was required but Cathal Marsh would get his chance off the tee, in fact two of them as he added six points from penalty goals before halftime.

While the scrum went to the visitors, the home side dominated the lineout. The towering figures of Joshua Furno and Ben Mitchell secured possession and disrupted New York’s throw-ins to counter their renowned driving maul. San Diego’s own drive crept ever closer and after repeat penalties, Paddy Ryan was shown yellow for re-entering from an offside position.

For what seemed an age the defiant RUNY defense spoiled every attack hurled at them until at last the dam broke. The New York backs were too tight at the scrum and left space out wide for the Legion to exploit. Again it was the Matyas to Patterson connection, though the former made difficult work of it as he passed late in contact instead of the simpler early option.

A rare moment of footballing skill came just moment later. Luke Burton sent up a high ball at halfway. Devereaux Ferris, the shortest man on the team, plucked the ball from the skies and passed to a rampaging Keni Nasoqeqe. He was dragged down by a desperate Mark O’Keeffe, but Furno was there to take the offload and the second row steamed over the last-gasp tackle attempt of Marsh.

The response was swift and direct. San Diego’s midfield defense was found wanting as Will Leonard ran clean through under the sticks from a scrum to set up a grandstand finish. The final quarter was spent spent exclusively in the Legion’s end, but RUNY’s try never materialised and the home side claimed another memorable triumph over their East Coast rivals.

Both teams return to the field next Sunday. New York’s home opener at MCU Park will be against the Seattle Seawolves. Later that evening the Legion will take on the Gilgronis in Austin.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 24
Tries – T. Patterson 2 (14’, 52’), J. Furno (55’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 3/3 (15’, 53’, 56’)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/2 (8’)

NEW YORK 20
Tries – Penalty try (22’), W. Leonard (60’)
Cons – C. Marsh 1/1 (61’)
Pens – C. Marsh 2/2 (26’, 35’)
Yellow cards – P. Ryan (46’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Jamie Dever (17 Faka’osi Pifeleti HT), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 62’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Aaron Mitchell 57’), 4 Ben Mitchell (19 Siaosi Mahoni 57’), 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Keni Nasoqeqe, 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Tira Patterson, 12 Dylan Audsley, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Joe Pietersen (capt.)

Not used: 20 Chris Turori, 21 Devin Short, 22 Tai Enosa, 23 Josh Thiel

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 73’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Kirk Hamilton 62’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Matt Wirken (20 Kyle Sumsion 45’), 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 James Denise (16 Mike Brown 62’), 8 Mathieu Bastareaud (19 Rob Irimescu 71’), 9 Marcus Walsh, 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (18 Kirk Hamilton 47’-56’) (23 Mike St. Claire 77’), 12 Chris Mattina, 13 Will Leonard (22 Harry Bennett 77’), 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Ben Foden

Not used: 21 Mike Petri

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Paul-Henri Courbier (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)