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Three tries in the first five minutes of the match gave LA all the points they needed to get by neighboring San Diego at the Memorial Coliseum on Saturday evening. The final score would read 45-17 to the Giltinis as the Legion recovered some pride in the second half.
A worse start could hardly have been imagined for the Legion. John Ryberg powered over on a set move from the first lineout of the match, and almost instantly a second runaway try was scored by Angus Cottrell. Both were converted by Luke Burton, but that was only part of the bad news.
In the lead-up to Cottrell’s try Nate Augspurger’s ankle was caught awkwardly in a tackle and the scrumhalf was carted off the pitch in a moon boot. LA offered their sympathies as Christian Poidevin sprinted clear for a third try, with Burton’s extras making it 21-nil as fans were still finding their seats.
The Legion finally showed some resistance with Tevita Tameilau barged over, but they were soon shorthanded after a bout of ill-discipline from Save Totovosau. With the right winger missing, his opposite number DTH van der Merwe was left wide open to receive a cross-kick from Luke Carty on a penalty play for another seven points.
A bit of luck handed a second try to San Diego via Ryan Matyas after a grubber attempt had bounced of multiple bodies. It came sandwiched between two more LA tries, one from JP Smith after a driving maul made headway, and then a second from van der Merwe on the stroke of halftime.
When Sean McNulty touched down for try number seven the Giltinis switched off. Burton was binned for a professional foul but the Legion couldn’t take advantage. Instead Bjorn Basson would score a consolation try in the 68th minute to close out the scoring in an otherwise uneventful second half.
Both teams, oddly enough, will again play in Los Angeles next Saturday night, though at different venues. The Legion face the Free Jacks at Dignity Health Track Field in the late afternoon with the Giltinis welcoming Old Glory DC to the Coliseum immediately following.
SCORING
LA 45
Tries – J. Ryberg (1’), A. Cottrell (3’), C. Poidevin (5’), D. van der Merwe 2 (21’, 40’), J. Smith (25’), S. McNulty (45’)
Cons – L. Burton 4/6 (2’, 4’, 6’, 22’), No kick (45’)
Yellow cards – L. Burton (50’)
SAN DIEGO 17
Tries – T. Tameilau (13’), R. Matyas (34’), B. Basson (68’)
Cons – S. González Iglesias 1/3 (14’)
Yellow cards – S. Totovosau (17’)
TEAMS
LA GILTINIS
1 Jean-Pierre Smith (17 Blake Rogers 51’), 2 Mahe Vailanu (16 Sean McNulty HT), 3 Charlie Abel (18 Frikkie de Beer 69’), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.) (19 Corey Thomas 57′), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 59′), 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Adam Ashe, 9 Harrison Goddard (23 Ryan James 71′), 10 Luke Carty (21 Cristian Rodriguez 62′), 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Luke Burton, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (22 Serupepeli Vularika 54′), 14 John Ryberg, 15 Glenn Bryce
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Cronan Gleeson 42′), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Dean Muir HT), 3 Chris Baumann (18 Aaron Mitchell 54’), 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Siaosi Mahoni (19 Travis Larsen 57’), 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau (capt.) (20 Michael Smith 78’), 9 Nate Augspurger (21 Carlo de Nysschen 4’ {23 Patrick Madden 79’}), 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Cameron Clark, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Save Totovosau (22 Cole Zarcone 46’), 15 Cecil Afrika
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Andrew Stockton (USA)
