San Diego rout NOLA in Chula Vista

The Legion put on a show as they routed the NOLA Gold by a score of 43-17 in Chula Vista on Saturday. It was the largest offensive output of the season for San Diego, who outscored their guests six tries to three in a comprehensive performance.

An early feeling out process ended with NOLA scoring the first try. Eric Howard crashed ahead to gain momentum and then Andrew Guerra took it on. The flanker somehow wriggled out of two tackles and reached out to ground the ball under the posts for a seven-pointer.

It took no time for a reply from the Legion. An overthrow at the lineout handed them possession in Gold territory. Thomas Morani nearly snuck through, and two phases later Tevita Tameilau’s shovel pass found Bjorn Basson unmarked on the wing for the try. Joe Pietersen tacked on the extras to level the scores.

Pietersen landed a penalty goal just ahead of the hydration break. When play resumed a scuffle off the ball resulted in a yellow card to Hanno Dirksen. Two minutes later Ethan McVeigh exploited a gap on the edge of a maul to score his first professional try with Pietersen again on target with the conversion.

Despite being shorthanded the Gold moved into scoring position but the Legion held them off, and when the ball was turned over a long breakout earned a penalty and a yellow card to Eric Howard for a professional foul. San Diego opted for the scrum and when the ball went wide Cecil Afrika was waiting to slip through the line. Pietersen’s kick appeared to be successful but the flags stayed down and left the score 22-7 at halftime.

NOLA were knocking on the door early in the second half but again San Diego’s defense held strong. A thumping tackle from Tameilau on Kyle Baillie dislodged the ball and it was spun wide to Pietersen lurking on the wing. The veteran stepped on the gas and had just enough pace to win an 85 meter sprint to the line. He converted his own while still catching his breath for what would be his final act of the day.

Faka’osi Pifeleti clobbered Nikola Bursic in a tackle but it was deemed a shoulder charge and the prop was sent to the bin as Bursic trudged off to be replaced. The Legion were not deterred. It was Afrika again on the end of straight hands down the line, this time sweeping through from the 22 meter line to score his double. Carlo de Nysschen’s conversion made it 36-7 to the home side.

A second yellow was brandished to San Diego after Siaosi Mahoni took out Eric Howard without the ball. The Gold would take advantage this time. Julián Domínguez took the ball at halfway, shrugged off the challenge from Afrika and then swatted away two more defenders en route to a brilliant individual effort.

The two sides exchanged scores in the final minutes. Two strong runs from Devin Short set up Kevin Sullivan for a try from short range. It gave NOLA some hope for a bonus point, but a fourth try wouldn’t come as instead de Nysschen raced clear to make is six for the Legion.

San Diego will celebrate the victory and enjoy their first bye week after nine consecutive weeks in action. They return to host Houston in Chula Vista on Saturday, May 29. NOLA return home to host the Utah Warriors next Saturday evening.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 43
Tries – B. Basson (16’), E. McVeigh (30’), C. Afrika 2 (40’, 54’), J. Pietersen (44’), C. de Nysschen (74’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 3/4 (17’, 31’, 45’), C. de Nysschen 1/1 (55’), R. Matyas 1/1 (75’)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (20’)
Yellow cards – F. Pifeleti (50’), S. Mahoni (59’)

NOLA 17
Tries – A. Guerra (13’), J. Domínguez (60’), K. Sullivan (68’)
Cons – No kick (13’), T. Guillimin 0/2
Yellow cards – H. Dirksen (28’), E. Howard (40’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia 60’), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 60’), 3 Chris Baumann (18 Cronan Gleeson 64’), 4 Joshua Furno, 5 Siaosi Mahoni (20 Ben Mitchell 69’), 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Michael Smith, 8 Tevita Tameilau (17 Nathan Sylvia 50’-60’) (19 Jasa Veremalua 69’), 9 Ethan McVeigh (21 Carlo de Nysschen 46’), 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.) (22 Tai Enosa 46’), 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Tiaan Loots (23 Ryan Matyas 69’), 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Cameron Clark, 15 Cecil Afrika

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 50’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Pat O’Toole 64’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 John Sullivan 55’), 4 Ignacio Dotti (20 Cam Dolan 46’), 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.) (21 Devin Short 55’), 6 Nikola Bursic (19 Billy Stewart 50’), 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Moni Tonga’uiha (16 Pat O’Toole 40’-50’), 9 Holden Yungert (22 Damian Stevens 46’), 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Lockie Kratz (23 Juan Cappiello 50’), 14 Hanno Dirksen, 15 Kyle Rogers

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Assistants: Austin Reed (USA) & Jacob Gonzalez (USA)