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The LA Giltinis impressed on their Major League Rugby debut. The West Coast side outclassed their visitors from the East Coast, the New England Free Jacks. LA were 42-27 winners at the Memorial Coliseum.
The LA Giltinis had a dream start. Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe ran in two early tries. The first saw him providing support to get an offload and the second was a three on two with van der Merwe finishing off a team score. Australia’s Matt Giteau converted both tries to give the Giltinis a 14-0 lead.
The New England Free Jacks hit back. They did so through Joe Johnston. Harrison Boyle’s conversion saw the East Coast side back in the game. Angus Cottrell restored the 14 point advantage. The Australian barged over for the first of two tries in the match.
The second quarter started with the LA Giltinis losing Christian Poidevin for ten minutes. Poidevin was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle. Boyle turned the opportunity into three points.
The one man advantage was short lived. Free Jacks’ center Aleki Morris-Lome was also shown a yellow card for foul play. Yet, upon his return, Morris-Lome had a quick impact. The inside center linked with Beaudein Waaka. The 37th minute try concluded the first half scoring. With it the LA Giltinis were 21-17 leaders at half-time.
The Free Jacks would not get closer to the Giltinis. The Californians scored three tries before the visitors would score their third try of the match. Cottrell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Pago Haini also touched down. First, Cottrell scored from an attacking lineout. Second, Ashley-Cooper found his way through three defenders. Third, Haini leaped over the Free Jacks defense to dot the ball down.
The Free Jacks’ managed 10 second half points. They came in the form of a Boyle penalty, a try to Vili Toluta’u and the conversion.
Both teams will play their round two matches next weekend. The Giltinis will have a home game against the Seattle Seawolves. The Free Jacks have a spot half-way home as they face the Houston SaberCats in Texas.
SCORING
LA 42
Tries – D. van der Merwe 2 (4’, 8’), A. Cottrell 2 (19’, 44’), A. Ashley-Cooper (57’), P. Haini (73’)
Cons – M. Giteau 5/5 (5’, 9’, 20’, 45’, 58’), L. Carty 1/1 (74’)
Yellow cards – C. Poidevin (22’)
NEW ENGLAND 27
Tries – J. Johnston (14’), B. Waaka (37’), V. Toluta’u (78’)
Cons – B. Waaka 2/2 (15’, 38’), M. Wilson 1/1 (79’)
Pens – B. Waaka 1/1 (23’), J. Poland 1/1 (47’)
Yellow cards – A. Morris-Lome (25’), M. Wilson (29’)
Red cards – J. Poland (51’)
TEAMS
LA GILTINIS
1 Jean-Pierre Smith (17 Blake Rogers 63’), 2 Mahe Vailanu (16 Sean McNulty 63’), 3 Charlie Abel (18 Frikkie de Beer 74’), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.) (19 Corey Thomas 66’), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell (20 Pago Haini 60’), 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Adam Ashe, 9 Harrison Goddard (21 Cristian Rodriguez 74’), 10 Matt Giteau (22 Luke Carty 63’), 11 DTH van der Merwe (23 Ryan James 69’), 12 Bill Meakes, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Glenn Bryce
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Sef Fa’agase (18 Kyle Ciquera 64’), 2 Pieter Jansen (16 Vili Toluta’u 59’), 3 Erich de Jager (17 Kensuke Hatakeyama 56’), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes (20 Matt Wirken 64’), 6 Evan Geist (22 Wian Conradie HT), 7 Joe Johnston (19 Ronan McCusker 50’), 8 Justin Johnson, 9 John Poland (21 Ollie Engelhart 71’), 10 Harrison Boyle, 11 Mitch Wilson, 12 Aleki Morris-Lome, 13 Poasa Waqanibau, 14 Dougie Fife, 15 Beaudein Waaka (23 Harry Barlow 45’)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Andrew Stockton (USA)
