Strong second half gives LA win over Austin

A strong second half from the LA saw the Giltinis defeating the Gilgronis 31-17 at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday. Austin were leading by five after 40 minutes but were held scoreless for the rest of the game as LA bounced back from their upset loss at the hands of NOLA.

The two sides were deadlocked on zeros until a penalty in the 13th minute gave Austin an attacking lineout. Sebastian de Chaves didn’t leave his feet to take the throw, turning and setting the drive that ended with Locky McCaffrey over the line. Mack Mason was accurate off the tee for two more.

There was an immediate response from LA. Michael de Waal was singled out for slowing down the breakdown, and at the ensuing lineout de Waal again was the guilty party for collapsing. The referee awarded a penalty try and sent the Austin flanker to consider his actions on the sideline.

After a brief hydration break Mason was given a chance for three and he made no mistake. A wayward kick off the boot of McCaffrey handed the Giltinis a counter-attacking opportunity and they took full advantage, with Bill Meakes chipping ahead for Harrison Goddard to collect, Meakes then taking the return pass for the try.

Austin somehow ripped the ball away from a Giltinis defensive maul and McCaffrey took it to within inches of the line. High Roach was hot on his trail and the hooker punched his way in for the try. Mason chipped over the extras and the AG’s had a five-point lead that would hold to halftime.

The Giltinis starting to look fatigued as Adam Ashe left the field just four minutes into the second half. They summoned the energy to work into Austin territory and then after repeat charges at the line finally the white wall was breached by John Ryberg, with Giteau’s kick nudging LA back into the lead.

A try very nearly came at the 57 minute mark when McCaffrey produced another turnover. Quick hands found Nick Johnson in space on the right side and it looked for all money that he would score but for a desperate tackle from DTH van der Merwe that drove Johnson into touch.

Roach was harshly penalised after getting entangled with Giteau off the ball, and LA were happy to make the most of the opportunity. A trick play at the lineout saw the throw going straight to Goddard up the middle and the scrumhalf showed the defense a clean pair of heels.

The final nail came from Ryberg, who scored his second on the end of a backline move that had Meakes as first receiver with Giteau looping around the back. Dom Akina looked to have grounded the ball in the corner in the corner soon after but the officials ruled it a knock-on and time would run out for the AG’s.

Any hope of a playoff spot for Austin will now require help from others with Utah retaining a five-point lead in the Western Conference. Meanwhile the Giltinis have clinched top spot in the West and home field advantage in the finals. Both teams are on the road next Saturday with the AG’s up against Old Glory and LA heading to Utah.

 

SCORING

LA 31
Tries – Penalty try (17′), B. Meakes (25′), J. Ryberg 2 (51′, 72′), H. Goddard (65′)
Cons – No kick (17′), M. Giteau 2/4 (52′, 66′)

AUSTIN 17
Tries – L. McCaffrey (13′), H. Roach (35′)
Cons – M. Mason 2/2 (14′, 36′)
Pens – M. Mason 1/1 (21′)
Yellow cards – M. de Waal (17′)

 

TEAMS

LA GILTINIS
1 Jean-Pierre Smith (17 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 74′), 2 Mahe Vailanu (16 Sean McNulty 52′-59′, 74′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Charlie Abel 9′), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Luke White (20 Ben Weischedel 77′), 6 Nathan Den Hoedt, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Adam Ashe (19 Pago Haini 44′), 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Matt Giteau (22 Serupepeli Vularika 74′), 11 DTH van der Merwe (23 Adam Channel 74′), 12 Bill Meakes, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 John Ryberg (21 Cristian Rodriguez 74′), 15 Luke Burton

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh (17 Jake Turnbull 52′), 2 Hugh Roach (16 Robbie Coetzee 64′), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Paddy Ryan HT-66′), 4 Cam Dodson, 5 Sebastian de Chaves (capt.) (19 Christian Ostberg 74′), 6 Dominic Akina, 7 Michael de Waal (20 Kyle Breytenbach 66′), 8 Locky McCaffrey, 9 Pele Cowley (21 Sidney Shoop 74′), 10 Kurt Morath (23 David Still HT), 11 Zinzan Elan-Puttick, 12 Ned Hodson, 13 Frank Halai, 14 Nick Johnson (22 Rodrick Waters 57′), 15 Mack Mason

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Jack Gohl (Australia)