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San Diego took a dominant 36-13 win over the New York Ironworkers at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday. It was the 10th consecutive victory for the Legion, equaling the Major League Rugby mark set by the New England Free Jacks just one year ago.
The home side were straight on the attack. A wide attack on first phase from a scrum set the platform for the first try. Tomas Aoake stepped back inside from his right wing spot, and then Tevita Tameilau thundered to within a meter of the line. Mikey Te’o was on hand to finish from short range, but Will Hooley’s conversion attempt was wide of the mark.
Jason Emery also missed his first attempt at the posts after a penalty. San Diego’s lineout was malfunctioning and they couldn’t clear, but New York’s attack was similarly ineffective. Another penalty attempt from straight in front for Emery was initially ruled to have sailed under the crossbar, but a video review showed that it had actually been successful and three points went up on the board.
Poor defense from New York at a scrum well inside San Diego territory saw the Legion breaking all the way to the opposite end of the pitch. A lineout was conceded and this time the throw was accurate, with Sama Malolo breaking from the back of the maul and blasting over the line. Hooley nailed the extras from the sideline.
Just before halftime the Legion would grab a third try. Ill discipline conceded an attacking lineout, with Ben Grant the banker at the front to set the maul. When the Ironworkers pack were fully committed Faka’osi Pifeleti spun away and crashed into the corner to make it 17-3 at the break.
New York finally created a try not long into the second half. Simple hands from a center scrum found Brooklyn Hardaker in space. The winger beat Nate Augspurger for pace on the outside and then stepped on the afterburner to make the corner. It was too wide for Emery to convert but there was a glimpse of hope for the visitors.
It would be snuffed out in emphatic fashion ahead of the hydration break. San Diego moved back into scoring position and Tameilau was held up after breaking from the back of a scrum. The dropout was countered and then Richard Judd found space on the edge of a ruck, twisting and fending through traffic before stepping the final defender to secure the bonus point.
A superb counter-attack from Hardaker finally led to another score for New York. It would not come easily, however, as it took the visitors six minutes to breach the line via Emery despite being entrenched well inside San Diego’s 22-meter line. By contrast the Legion struck back instantly with ease, again finding the Ironworkers defense wanting as Aoake sauntered over on the end of a cutout pass from Marcel Brache on first phase.
The Ironworkers would be hit with a double blow in the final moments of the game. First Joe Basser went down with a compromised knee with two minutes to play, leaving the visitors with only 14 men on the pitch. Adding insult to injury, Shilo Klein broke free from halfway and sold a dummy before sending Judd over for his double. Luke Burton’s conversion brought the match to a close.
All that stands between San Diego and a new record is Chicago, who welcomes the Legion to SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday. The Ironworkers limp home to play the Dallas Jackals on Sunday.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 36
Tries (6) – M. Te’o (5′), S. Malolo (33′), F. Pifeleti (39′), R. Judd 2 (56′, 79′), T. Aoake (74′)
Cons (3) – W. Hooley 2/4 (34′, 57′), L. Burton 1/2 (80′)
NEW YORK 13
Tries (2) – B. Hardaker (47′), J. Emery (71′)
Cons (0) – J. Emery 0/1, S. Windsor 0/1
Pens (1) – J. Emery 1/2 (23′)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 51′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Shilo Klein 62′), 3 Luke Green (18 Nathan Sylvia 62′), 4 Ben Grant, 5 Isaac Ross (19 Chris Turori 30′), 6 Tupou Afungia (20 Michael Smith 51′), 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Will Hooley (22 Luke Burton 62′), 11 Nate Augspurger (23 Ryan Matyas 62′), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Mikey Te’o
Not used: 21 Jason Higgins
NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Nic Mayhew 27′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kaleb Geiger (18 Sam Davies 62′), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Hamish Dalzell (16 DaQuan Perry 72′), 6 Brad Tucker (19 Charlie Hewitt 69′), 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Pago Haini (*20 Joe Basser 30′), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Eamonn Matthews 62′), 10 Jason Emery, 11 Teofilo Fidow, 12 Teihorangi Walden (22 Sam Windsor 62′), 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Brooklyn Hardaker, 15 Andrew Coe (23 Kieran Joyce 62′)
*20 Joe Basser left the field injured at the 78 minute mark and could not be replaced
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Jack Gohl (USA) & Alexis Alfaro (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Attendance: 8,926
