LA claims MLR title with convincing win over ATL

The LA Giltinis are Major League Rugby champions after defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Memorial Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. It was a comprehensive performance from the home side, who left their opponents frustrated and took advantage of nearly every scoring opportunity.

Matt Giteau turned down an early chance at the posts to instead aim for the corner. A set move attacking the short side was foiled by the ATL defense. At the other end a jarring tackle from Bill Meakes on Johan Momsen forced a knock-on to stall the Ratlers momentum.

Short breaks from Marko Janse van Rensburg and Rowan Gouws gained territory for the visitors and then the LA defense conceded an offside penalty directly in front of the posts. There was no thought of taking a risk for ATL, with Kurt Coleman taking the easy three points to open the scoring.

A reply came swiftly from the home side. ATL were caught shorthanded defending the sideline and then were pinged for failing to roll from the tackle. This time Giteau accepted the offering, his left boot accurate to bring the two sides level.

In a flash the Giltinis scored twice. Giteau put John Ryberg through a gaping hole in the middle of the ATL defense for the first. It was Ryberg again with the second. Giteau’s chip over the line was regathered by Adam Ashley-Cooper and the rampaging winger had the awareness to reach out to the line after being tripped up by the last defender.

Charlie Abel was pinged for a late hit on Ryan Nell. The ATL co-captain left the pitch with an arm injury, replaced by Mark O’Keeffe, as Coleman executed a perfect kick to the corner from a tight angle. From the lineout the drive came on and it worked as intended with Janse van Rensburg getting credit for the try.

The first points of the second half went to LA. Marno Redelinghuys took out Dave Dennis off the ball and Giteau knocked over another three points. An attacking lineout for the Ratlers was disrupted and the Giltinis again went on the attack. ATL’s defense was stretched and DTH van der Merwe was left unmarked to touch down in the corner.

Time was no longer on ATL’s side and mistakes handed penalty shots for Giteau and Luke Burton, both of which found their mark. A consolation try from Ross Deacon gave ATL the final say but the result was beyond doubt with the Giltinis casually clearing to touch on their final possession.

LA have claimed the title in their first season as an organization. They say goodbye to Head Coach Darren Coleman, who departs for the Waratahs, and while man-of-the-match Giteau stopped short of confirming his retirement, Ashley-Cooper confirmed that he will call a close to his storied professional career.

The Major League Rugby season concludes with all 99 matches completed and none lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 13th team – the Dallas Jackals – will join for the 2022 season with other cities lining up to begin their quest to lift the MLR Shield.

 

SCORING

LA 31
Tries – J. Ryberg 2 (21′, 24′), D. van der Merwe (53′)
Cons – M. Giteau 2/3 (22′, 54′)
Pens – M. Giteau 3/3 (19′, 44′, 70′), L. Burton 1/1 (76′)

ATL 17
Tries – M. Janse van Rensburg (36′), R. Deacon (78′)
Cons – K. Coleman 2/2 (37′, 79′)
Pens – K. Coleman 1/1 (15′)

 

TEAMS

LA GILTINIS
1 Charlie Abel (17 Blake Rogers 79′), 2 Mahe Vailanu (16 Sean McNulty 76′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell (20 Pago Haini 76′), 7 Christian Poidevin (19 Sean O’Brien 64′), 8 Corey Thomas (18 Luke White 64′), 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Matt Giteau (22 Luke Carty 72′), 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Bill Meakes, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 John Ryberg (23 Ryan James 72′), 15 Luke Burton (21 Serupepeli Vularika 79′)

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (18 Will Burke 60′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Neethling Gericke 60′), 3 Wikus Groenewald (17 Chance Wenglewski 52′), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Conor Keys (20 Ross Deacon 49′), 6 Vili Helu (19 Connor Cook 56′), 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Johan Momsen, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Rory van Vugt (21 Ryan Rees 59′), 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.) (23 Mark O’Keeffe 35′), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Austin White (22 Robbie Petzer 71′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) & Kahlil Harrison (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)

 

Attendance: 7,389