Powerful first half enough for LA Giltinis to win in Atlanta

Week 13 of MLR 2022 got off with a bang. In a replay of the MLR 2021 Final Rugby ATL took on the defending champions, the LA Giltinis. A first half blitz from Los Angeles took the visitor to an insurmountable lead; indeed, despite being outplayed in the second-half, the Giltinis won by 12 points.

The First half dominance from Los Angeles came in the form of four tries scored and one conceeded. The first had alarm bells ringing in Atlanta as Jon Ryberg was over and into the try zone for an early score.

Rugby ATL got one back as Canadian Matt Heaton scored the only points of the first half for the home side. The Heaton try would be followed by a period of Gitinis’ dominance. This was so despite Joe Taufete’e receiving a yellow card in the 23rd minute.

Despite being a man down, Los Angeles added to their lead. Jordan Trainor crossed for the first of his two tries. It was followed by one to Tom Mitchell, a try in which Taufete’e put Mitchell into a gap. The Giltinis’ winger ran to score under the posts unopposed.

It went from impressive to red-hot for Los Angeles. Billy Meakes kicked through for Jordan Trainor to chase and gather. It was all to easy as Los Angeles go in to half-time with a 31-5 lead.

In between Trainor’s first try and that of Mitchell, Rugby ATL managed to deny themselves a certain score as Daemon Torres butchered a try. Having gone left from the back of a scrum, he linked with Duncan van Schalkwyk who returned the ball to him for a simple score. Instead, it was slapped out of his hands as he went to ground the ball.

The LA Giltinis were kept scoreless in the second-half. What won them the contest was their tackling. Massive defense from the LA Giltinis held out Rugby ATL after minutes of raids early in the second half.

Play continued with the Giltinis unable to put anything of note together. Frustrated went beyond boiling point as Hanco Germishuys was red carded. The Eagles flanker is highly likely to be suspended and not for a brief period of time. He was red carded for an elbow to the head shot.

Having had the better of play throughout the second-half it was the 68th minute when points finally came. Flanker Vili Helu joins Heaton on the score sheet. His try was the first of back-to-back scores for Rugby ATL. Alex Maughan’s score in the 73rd minute had the hosts back in with a slight chance.

At the same time discipline issues meant that Los Angeles were down to 13 as Les Makin was yellow carded. Ultimately, there was not enough time left as the visitors were able to complete a 31-19 win.

Next up for the Giltinis is a battle of the cocktails; the Western Conference leaders, the Austin Gilgronis travel to Los Angeles next weekend. Rugby ATL have a trip to Utah at the right time. They will be up against the out-of-sorts Utah Warriors next weekend.

 

SCORING

ATL 19
Tries – M. Heaton (16′), V. Helu (67′), A. Maughan (72′)
Cons – J. de la Vega Mendía 2/3 (68′, 73′)

LA 31
Tries – J. Ryberg (5′), J. Trainor 2 (26′, 39′), T. Mitchell (37′)
Cons – H. Goddard 3/3 (6′, 27′, 40′), No kick (37′)
Pens – H. Goddard 1/1 (13′)
YC – J Taufete’e (23′), L. Leulua’iali’i-Makin (71′)
RC – H. Germishuys (59′)

 

TEAMS

RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke (16 Alex Maughan 47′), 2 Tiaan Erasmus (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos 53′), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (18 John Sullivan 53′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Conor Keys 47′), 5 Johan Momsen (20 Evan Mintern 68′), 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Rowan Gouws (22 Eamonn Matthews HT), 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Martini Talapusi (23 Harley Davidson 51′), 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía

Not used: 21 Connor Cook

LA GILTINIS
1 Andrew Tuala (17 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin 49′), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Lindsey Stevens 49′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Charlie Abel 49′), 4 Luke White, 5 Dave Dennis (capt.) (19 Corey Thomas 61′), 6 Nathan Den Hoedt (1 Andrew Tuala 75′), 7 Christian Poidevin (16 Lindsey Stevens 24′-33′) (20 Cyrille Cama 68′), 8 Hanco Germishuys (22 Cristian Rodriguez 79′), 9 Tas Smith (21 Luke Burton 68′), 10 Harrison Goddard, 11 Tom Mitchell, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 John Ryberg (23 Will Chambers 49′), 15 Jordan Trainor (22 Cristian Rodriguez 61′-73′)

NOTE: LA made late changes before kickoff so the report’s numbers were altered to reflect their starting positions. Actual game numbers were as follows: 6 Corey Thomas, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Burton, 19 Nathan Den Hoedt, 21 Tas Smith. 

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Henrique Platais (Brazil) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)