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The San Diego Legion secured their fourth victory of the season with a 24-12 result over Old Glory DC at the Sports Deck on Sunday. It was an improved performance from the visitors, who were the better side in the second half, but not enough to halt their five game winless streak.
Danny Lee’s charges wasted little time putting the visitors under pressure. A penalty conceded an attacking lineout and the result was a try for Matt Moulds at the end of a driving maul. Joe Pietersen landed the conversion and added a penalty soon after to make it 10-nil with only 9 minutes played.
A perfectly-weighted chip kick from Will Hooley landed in Pietersen’s hands, with Michael Smith following up to make more territory. Old Glory’s defense arrived to slow up the advances but Thomas Morani grabbed a loose ball and broke a tackle en route to a try under the sticks.
Signs of life finally arrived from the visitors as they pressed into San Diego territory. The pressure resulted in a yellow card to Chris Robshaw for cynical play at the breakdown, though it appeared to be a case of mistaken identity with Tiaan Loots the more likely guilty party. It mattered not. Rohan Saifoloi’s kick for a lineout went through touch in-goal and the opportunity was lost.
On the other side of halftime another promising DC attack was snuffed out by a Smith turnover. San Diego looked to counter but William Talataina read the play and stepped in to intercept Hooley’s pass, running over half the field untouched to score a seven-pointer.
Just a couple minutes later Old Glory were in again. This time it was a more conventional route with several phases driving the Legion back to their own goal line. The ball went wide left and when Danny Tusitala was trapped in the ruck, Talataina stepped in at halfback to make a try-scoring pass to an unmarked Renata Roberts-Te Nana for the try.
The momentum stayed with the visitors a little longer. Again they went through the phases with Mike Dabulas offering Robshaw a stiff left hand. The former England captain redeemed himself as he latched onto the ball when Tusitala found himself isolated while breaking from a ruck.
An overthrow at the lineout gave the Legion a chance to get back into the game, and they took full advantage. Marcus Tupuola made a searing break through a gap and Pietersen there in close support. The ball was recycled and Tevita Tameilau barged over for the try, with Pietersen’s conversion the final scoring act in the game.
The Legion face the long road trip to the East Coast next Sunday for a match against Rugby New York. It’s a much-needed bye week for Old Glory, who will rest and regroup before their March 20 home game against Rugby ATL.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 24
Tries – M. Moulds (4′), T. Morani (16′), T. Tameilau (68′)
Cons – J. Pietersen 2/2 (5′, 69′), No kick (16′)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (9′)
YC – C. Robshaw (35′)
DC 12
Tries – W. Talataina (50′), R. Roberts-Te Nana (54′)
Cons – No kick (50′), R. Saifoloi 0/1
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Pat Lynott 69′), 2 Matt Moulds, 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Baumann HT), 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Ben Grant, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Michael Smith (20 Ayemere Oiyemhonlan 31′-HT), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.) (21 Jason Higgins 69′), 10 Will Hooley (23 Marcus Tupuola 59′), 11 Matías Freyre, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Thomas Morani (22 Josh Thiel 74′), 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Joe Pietersen
Not used: 16 Dillon Shotwell, 19 Jonah Dietenberger
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro (18 Jack Carroll 74′), 2 Rob Irimescu (16 Mo Katz 67′), 3 Kyle Stewart (17 Jake Ilnicki 51′), 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Cory Daniel, 7 Dom Bailey (20 Fintan Coleman 59′), 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Rohan Saifoloi, 11 Doug Fraser (22 Mike Dabulas 55′), 12 Junior Sa’u, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana
Not used: 19 David Beach, 21 John LeFevre, 23 Owen Sheehy
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Jacob Gonzalez (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
