San Diego power past Houston

The San Diego Legion powered past the Houston SaberCats. The Californian side were 39-11 winners at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista. The win boosts the Legion’s 2021 season. Houston are now in danger of falling to bottom of the table.

The match was competitive early on. The teams exchanged penalties before a second from Sam Windsor put the Houston SaberCats 6-3 to end the opening quarter.

The second half was all San Diego. A blitz from the Legion saw three unanswered tries as the Californians were nineteen points ahead at half-time. The first was a case of seizing the moment. Tiaan Loots charged down a clearance kick from Nick Boyer. The ball bounced off the cross bar and into Loots hands inside the try zone.

While the first was fortunate the second and third tries were all about momentum. The San Diego forwards took control, laying a platform for more scores. First, the Legion stole a lineout. The Californians then marched forward with Italian international Joshua Furno touching down. Second, Dean Muir scored from an attacking maul.

Prior to Muir’s score, San Diego had turned down penalty shot at goal. They would, nonetheless, add a penalty minutes later. Fly half Joe Pietersen added his second of the half. The 38th minute strike ended the scoring with the Legion up 25-6.

Houston hit-back to open the second half scoring. Fijian Veramu Dikidikilati burst over from close range, powering through Cecil Afrika’s tackle in the process. Windsor’s conversion was wide to keep the scoring to a 14-point margin.

Houston continued to have the upper hand for the majority of the third quarter. A key moment saw the SaberCats within meters of scoring only to knock-on. It ended minutes of attacking waves deep in the opposition 22.

The Legion held off additional raids. Their patience ultimately saw them rewarded by remaining in control of the scoreboard. They went on to score a fourth try to complete a bonus point win. Argentine center Thomas Morani was on the end of quick hands to dive over in the left corner.

The late momentum was all San Diego. A second try in the final minutes saw the Legion finishing with a comprehensive five tries to one victory. Replacement Keni Nasoqeqe barged over for the final score; a try that saw a mismatch as he ran at Houston backs.

Both teams will play again next Saturday. The Houston SaberCats have a home match against Texan rivals the Austin Gilgronis. The San Diego Legion travel to Georgia to face the Toronto Arrows on neutral territory.

 

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 39
Tries – T. Loots (21′), J. Furno (26′), D. Muir (32′), T. Morani (76′), K. Nasoqeqe (80′)
Cons – J. Pietersen 2/3 (22′, 77′), No kick (26′), C. de Nysshen 1/1 (80′)
Pens – J. Pietersen 2/2 (6′, 37′)
Yellow cards – B. Basson (63′)

HOUSTON 11
Tries – V. Dikidikilati (47′)
Cons – S. Windsor 0/1
Pens – S. Windsor 2/2 (2′, 20′)

 

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Cronan Gleeson 62′), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 62′), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Baumann 48′), 4 Joshua Furno, 5 Ben Mitchell (20 Siaosi Mahoni 43′), 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Michael Smith (19 Keni Nasoqeqe 50′), 8 Jasa Veremalua, 9 Ethan McVeigh (21 Carlo de Nysschen 58′), 10 Joe Pietersen (22 Tai Enosa 77′), 11 Bjorn Basson (23 Ryan Matyas 77′), 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Cameron Clark (capt.), 15 Cecil Afrika

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nikoloz Khatiashvili (17 Liam Murray 69′), 2 Tiaan Erasmus (16 Mike Brown 45′), 3 Charlie Connolly (18 Nik Hildebrand 62′), 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Apisai Tauyavuca 45′), 6 Luke Beauchamp (capt.), 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Adriaan Booysen (20 Bronson Teles 74′), 9 Nick Boyer (21 Zachary Short 77′), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Veramu Dikidikilati (22 Max Tacket 74′), 13 Joe Thomas, 14 Jake Hidalgo (23 Zack Godfrey 67′), 15 Taylor Howden

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Austin Reed (USA) & Alexis Alfaro (USA)