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A Major League Rugby record crowd of 11,423 took in the first rugby game at the new Snapdragon Stadium. Local fans were treated to an entertaining spectacle that ended with the home town San Diego Legion defeating the Utah Warriors 33-17.
The first try went to the home side at the 15-minute mark. San Diego’s backline made ground and then Faka’osi Pifeleti barged over on a short pass from Richard Judd. Josh Henderson chipped over the extras to make it a full seven.
In the blink of an eye the Warriors had a reply, thanks to San Diego mistake. A loose pass was snapped up by Saia Uhila, who fed Joe Mano on his left for a clean run into the corner. The conversion attempt from Joel Hodgson didn’t find its target.
Uhila went from hero to villain with a late hit that landed him in the bin. The Legion capitalised immediately when Henderson fended off one defender and popped back inside to a trailing Dan Pryor for the score. The flags stayed down on the conversion attempt but the Legion were 7 points ahead.
Henderson slotted a penalty goal and then some disjoined Utah defense opened the door for San Diego’s next try. It was Henderson again setting it up, a wide pass connecting with Mikey Te’o who in turn freed Nate Augspurger. The Eagles veteran stepped on the gas and won the race to the corner to the delight of the partisan spectators.
Just ahead of the 50th minute Henderson’s second penalty goal stretched the lead to 23-5, but Utah came roaring back into the game soon after. Connor McLeod’s sniping run got behind the defense and Paul Lasike was there to pick and drive in under the posts for a seven-pointer.
Just as quickly the Warriors momentum was snuffed out. A lineout drive worked to perfection with Christian Poidevin getting the credit for the grounding to secure the bonus point. Henderson’s conversion brought up 30 points for the home side.
Some spectacular handling from Utah’s backline on a set move was capped by a huge pass from Cliven Loubser to a wide-open Caleb Makene for the finish. There would be no comeback for the Warriors, however, as Will Hooley’s penalty goal put a wrap on the scoring. A scrum penalty to San Diego in their own end denied the visitors a chance for their own bonus point.
The Warriors will celebrate their own home opener against the Dallas Jackals next Saturday. Snapdragon Stadium will get another chance to shine on Sunday when the Legion host the New England Free Jacks.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 33
Tries (4) – F. Pifeleti (15′), D. Pryor (21′), N. Augspurger (32′), C. Poidevin (57′)
Cons (2) – J. Henderson 2/4 (16′, 58′)
Pens (3) – J. Henderson 2/2 (29′, 49′), W. Hooley 1/1 (73′)
UTAH 17
Tries (3) – J. Mano (17′), P. Lasike (53′), C. Makene (66′)
Cons (1) – J. Hodgson 0/2, No kick (53′)
YC (1)- S. Uhila (20′)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 62′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Shilo Klein 54′), 3 Nathan Sylvia (18 Chris Baumann 70′), 4 Ben Grant (20 Malakai Latu 79′), 5 Isaac Ross (19 Chris Turori 62′), 6 Dan Pryor (21 Christian Poidevin 54′), 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tupou Afungia, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Josh Henderson (22 Will Hooley 67′), 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (23 Ryan Matyas 75′), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Nate Augspurger, 15 Mikey Te’o
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Olive Kilifi 47′), 2 Tuvere Vugakoto (16 Joey Backe 70′), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 47′), 4 Jamie Lane, 5 Saia Uhila (20 Onehunga Havili 54′), 6 Lance Williams (19 Thomas Tu’avao 54′), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.) (22 Jeremiah Noaese 68′), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Connor McLeod (21 Zion Going 73′), 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike (23 Cliven Loubser 62′), 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Caleb Makene
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Jacob Gonzalez (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Attendance: 11,423
