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The LA Giltinis ultimately took a comfortable 56-12 win over the Dallas Jackals at Choctaw Stadium on Saturday, but they were made to work for it. A seven-try second half performance was the difference as the two sides were dead even in the first half.
It took over half-an-hour for the first try to be scored, and it came with a dash of brilliance from Harrison Goddard. The flyhalf chipped from his own half and regathered, swerving past one before passing to Nathan Den Hoedt on his left. Billy Meakes was there to take the final pass in for the score.
The Jackals soon conjured a response. Conrad Hodgson made a break into LA territory, and then Tom Mitchell stepped out of in-goal to concede a 5-meter scrum to Dallas. It wheeled to the left and Conrado Roura somehow evaded three defenders to touch down in the corner. Adriaan Carelse nailed the sideline conversion and it was all square at halftime.
LA came out with determination to start the second half, and within three minutes Lindsey Stevens went over on the back of a driving maul. Immediately at the restart the Giltinis would run the length of the pitch with John Ryberg barging his way over in the corner.
Ben LeSage was next to cross, taking the scoring pass from Mitchell after the fullback had broken the line. Luke Carty added the extras just moments after entering the game. The barrage continued as Stevens grabbed a double on the back of another lineout drive.
Four more tries would come before full-time. Charlie Abel burst through to send Goddard away for the first. Dallas got one back when Lui Sitama snatched up a loose ball that Mitchell left behind. Sam Peri was handed a gift from Meakes after Ryberg had rumbled up the middle, and on the stroke of full-time Marco Fepulea’i went over from close range.
Dallas will enjoy a week off before returning for their final outing of the inaugural campaign against Utah on June 4. LA will face the Warriors first at Zions Bank Stadium next Saturday.
SCORING
DALLAS 12
Tries – C. Roura (38′), L. Sitama (72′)
Cons – A. Carelse 1/2 (39′)
LA 56
Tries – B. Meakes (32′), L. Stevens 2 (43′, 56′), J. Ryberg (45′), B. LeSage (53′), H. Goddard (70′), S. Peri (76′), M. Fepulea’i (80′)
Cons – No kick 2 (32′, 76′), L. Burton 2/2 (44′, 46′), L. Carty 4/4 (54′, 57′, 71′, 80’+1′)
TEAMS
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray (17 Ryan Bower 46′), 2 Dewald Kotze (16 Ryheem Powell 77′), 3 Herman Agenbag (18 Alex Tucci 62′), 4 Campbell Robinson (19 Sam Phillips 62′), 5 Charlie Hola, 6 Matthew Gash-Gilder, 7 Jack Paloucek, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Carlo de Nysschen (21 Tom Brusati 62′), 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Rodrick Waters, 12 Lui Sitama, 13 Veramu Dikidikilati (22 Chad London 51′), 14 Cael Hodgson, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.) (23 Cian Barry 42′-52′) (20 Bronson Teles 65′)
LA GILTINIS
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Charlie Abel HT), 2 Lindsey Stevens, 3 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin (18 Marco Fepulea’i HT), 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 5 Luke White, 6 Zach Bonte, 7 Christian Poidevin (16 Cyrille Cama 63′), 8 Langilangi Haupeakui (16 Cyrille Cama 19′-22′) (19 Sam Peri 71′), 9 Tas Smith (23 Luke Carty 52′), 10 Harrison Goddard, 11 Will Chambers (22 Ben LeSage 46′), 12 Luke Burton (21 Cristian Rodriguez 55′), 13 Billy Meakes (capt.), 14 John Ryberg, 15 Tom Mitchell
Not used: 20 Corey Thomas
NOTE: A late change before kickoff saw Zach Bonte starting in place of Corey Thomas, who pulled up during the warm-up. Bonte wore No20 but is listed above in his starting position.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Shawn Martin (USA) & Cole Jones (USA)
TMO: Davey Ardrey (USA)
