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The Major League Rugby preseason came to a close on Friday with four teams taking to the pitch in their final tune-up ahead of next weekend’s regular season openers. Neither match was broadcast and details were difficult to find. Below is a summary of what was available.
SAN DIEGO LEGION 56 vs 26 UTAH WARRIORS
Friday, February 10, Elite Athlete Training Center, Chula Vista
The Warriors ran out to a 17-nil lead against San Diego’s less experienced first half side. By halftime the gap was closed to just three points. It was all change for the Legion in the second half, and their backline put on a show in the Chula Vista sunshine. Individual scorers were not immediately available but the final tally was 8 tries to the home side and 4 to the visitors.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
(1st half) 1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Fred Apulu, 4 Chris Turori, 5 Jale Railala, 6 Malakai Latu, 7 Finn Kearns, 8 Dan Pryor, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Filimoni Waqainabete, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Tomas Aoake, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Mikey Te’o
(2nd half) 1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Nathan Sylvia, 4 Ben Grant, 5 Isaac Ross, 6 Christian Poidevin, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Josh Henderson, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Will Hooley
Replacements (incomplete): Shilo Klein, Chris Baumann, Tupou Afungia, Thomas Morani
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Tuvere Vugakoto, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Jamie Lane, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Connor McLeod, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: Joey Backe, Emerson Prior, Angus MacLellan, Takaji Young Yen, Jonah Dietenberger, Onehunga Havili, Thomas Tu’avao, John DuPree, Zion Going, Tomasi Tonga, Logan Tago, Cliven Loubser
OLD GLORY DC 42 vs 14 TORONTO ARROWS
Friday, February 10, The St. James, Springfield
The scores were level at 7-apiece at the intermission, but the home side ran rampant in the second half. Cole Davis scored both of Toronto’s tries, with Shane O’Leary kicking the extras. Complete scoring details for DC were not immediately available but Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz scored on the end of a pushover try, and Owen Sheehy rounded off another attack.
Toronto opted to rest several leading players and with Jack McRogers unavailable, it forced them to field flanker James O’Neill at hooker with no experienced backup. Youngster Cole Brown was the only specialist scrumhalf who made the trip. DC handed a club debut to Gardy Lebon, with academy halfback Jose Reyes also getting his first shot with the senior side.
OLD GLORY DC
(1st half) 1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Cali Martinez, 4 Stan South, 5 Collin Grosse, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Fermin Martinez, 13 Thretton Palamo, 14 Mike Dabulas, 15 Kurt Baker
(2nd half) 1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 David Beach, 6 Brady Daniel, 7 Alejo Daireaux, 8 Tevita Naqali, 9 Gardy Lebon, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 John Rizzo, 12 Doug Fraser, 13 Marcos Young, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Owen Sheehy
Replacements: KoiKoi Nelligan, Alex Balladares, Jose Reyes, Mike Weir, William Talataina
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Conan O’Donnell, 2 James O’Neill, 3 Isaac Salmon, 4 Corey Thomas, 5 Micaiah Torrance-Read, 6 Travis Larsen, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Mitch Eadie, 9 Cole Brown, 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Fabian Goodall, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Cole Davis, 15 Ciaran Breen
Replacements: James Grindal, Lolani Faleiva, Tyler Rowland, Nik Hildebrand, Adrian Wadden, Mike Sheppard, Mason Flesch, Owain Ruttan, Mitch Richardson, Kobe Faust, Avery Oitomen
