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The Houston SaberCats could not have asked for a better result in San Diego on Sunday. Not only did they set a new franchise record with their 7th win of the season, the 34-24 score secured the maximum points while preventing the home side from any bonus points in defeat. It puts Houston in pole position for the third and final playoff spot in the West.
Most of the opening quarter was contested up front. San Diego took the lead early via the lineout drive with Peter Malcolm getting the credit. Houston responded immediately in similar fashion. When their own maul went down, Gideon van Wyk picked and got under the defense to score the equaliser. Kian Meadon’s conversion nudged the visitors ahead.
The Legion regrouped and attacked from the their own end, with Bjorn Basson tearing up the field into Houston territory. When the Cats conceded a penalty Will Hooley stepped up and landed three points to give the home side an 8-7 lead.
On the other side of the hydration break Ma’a Nonu clattered into Davey Coetzer, leaving the Houston flyhalf in a heap. After a brief pause in action Coetzer regained his senses and the SaberCats went on the attack. A wide ball from Christian Dyer found Meadon in space for a try in the corner.
Houston’s backs were growing in confidence and Coetzer slipped through a half-gap, offloading to Louritz van der Schyff. Coetzer got back in the play and delivered quick ball to Meadon, who in turn found Marcell Muller with the big winger stretching out for a try on debut.
Hencus van Wyk was smashed by two SaberCats on the gainline and spilled possession. Marno Redelinghuys snatched up the ball and immediately offloaded to Gideon van Wyk, who showed a clean pair of heels to the defense. The try was waved off for a late hit from Malon Al-Jiboori on Malcolm in the build-up, however, and instead the result was a penalty from Hooley on the stroke of halftime.
Hooley started the second half scoring with a penalty goal. Chris Robshaw deftly snagged a turnover at a breakdown and Matai Leuta was binned for a deliberate knock-on immediately after. A golden opportunity was wasted, however, with Hooley’s touch-finder went dead and gave the ball back to Houston near the halfway line.
Meadon had a chance to extend the lead but his kick went askew. An overthrow at the lineout cost the Legion dearly as Dean Muir was first to collect. A couple phases later Juan Pablo Zeiss popped up at first receiver and bowled over three defenders with the help of Siaosi Mahoni to breach the line and secure the bonus point.
San Diego were looking down and out but an error from Keni Nasoqeqe gave them hope. The big flanker dropped the restart and Ryan Matyas snapped up the loose ball for an instant response. Hooley landed the conversion from a tricky angle to make it a three-point game.
The turning point came just after the hydration break when Paddy Ryan saw yellow for cynical play inside his own end. Houston opted for the lineout and though the initial drive was slowed, Muir peeled off to the short side and with only Jason Higgins standing in his way it was no contest for the skipper to score.
A fourth Hooley penalty would make things interesting in the final minutes but the SaberCats kept their composure. Their forwards bashed up the field until Coetzer called for the ball, finding a screaming Zach Pangelinan on his inside. The Houston original stretched out of a tackle to score a famous try that left the Legion with nothing to show for their efforts.
It’s a short turnaround for the SaberCats as they return home to face the Utah Warriors on Saturday. The Legion will have to find some inspiration in their home game against the LA Giltinis on Sunday or all hopes of the postseason could well be dashed.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 24
Tries – P. Malcolm (4′), R. Matyas (58′)
Cons – W. Hooley 1/2 (59′)
Pens – W. Hooley 4/4 (21′, 40′, 43′, 71′)
YC – P. Ryan (65′)
HOUSTON 34
Tries – G. van Wyk (7′), K. Meadon (25′), M. Muller (36′), J. Zeiss (56′), D. Muir (66′), Z. Pangelinan (79′)
Cons – K. Meadon 2/5 (8′, 57′), D. Coetzer 0/1
Pens – K. Meadon 0/1
YC – M. Leuta (47′)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Joe Walsh 48′), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Pat Lynott 61′), 3 Hencus van Wyk (18 Paddy Ryan 61′), 4 Jale Railala (23 Chris Turori 73′), 5 Ben Mitchell, 6 Chris Robshaw (19 Tevita Tameilau 48′), 7 Michael Smith (20 Rohan O’Regan 55′), 8 Dan Pryor (3 Hencus van Wyk 68′-75′), 9 Jason Higgins (21 Joe Pietersen 67′), 10 Will Hooley, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.), 13 Tomas Aoake, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Matías Freyre (22 Tiaan Loots 55′)
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Alec McDonnell (17 Frikkie de Beer 68′), 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Aaron Mitchell 72′), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Siaosi Mahoni (20 Emmanuel Albert 64′), 6 Gideon van Wyk (19 Will Crawford 72′), 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Malon Al-Jiboori, 9 Dillon Smit (21 Nick Boyer 77′), 10 David Coetzer, 11 Marcell Muller, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Christian Dyer, 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Kian Meadon (22 Zach Pangelinan 68′)
Not used: 16 Diego Fortuny, 23 Javon Camp
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Alexis Alfaro (USA)
TMO: Kahlil Harrison (USA)
