San Diego skips away from second-string Seawolves

The Legion skipped past a second-string Seawolves by a final score of 40-19 on Sunday. It stretches San Diego’s winning streak to 13 games but came at a cost with captain Blair Cowan sent off in the second half, putting in doubt his participation in doubt for a potential rematch with Seattle in the Western Conference Final.

A sloppy start from the home side saw them turning the ball over and then conceding a scrum penalty. Seattle couldn’t clear their end, however, and eventually the pressure yielded points with Finn Kearns crashing over for his first professional try. Josh Henderson slotted the extras to make it a full seven.

San Diego were dominant at the breakdown but continued to struggle at the set piece. They were then caught attempting to run out of their own end, with Henderson’s pop-pass intended for Ryan Matyas instead snatched away by Devereaux Ferris who raced clear under the posts.

A line break from Cowan came to nothing when the ball was again thrown away, and San Diego’s mistakes sent them backwards. At last Filimoni Waqainabete burst free down the left side, connecting with Mikey Te’o in support for a runaway try converted by Henderson.

The Seawolves had an immediate response. Nakai Penny ripped the ball free from a tackle and one quick pass from James Malcolm put Lopeti Aisea in space. The midfielder sold a dummy and run straight through the gap to score in the corner. Ferris couldn’t land the extras but the gap was only two.

With time winding down in the half the Legion attacked from a scrum well inside their own territory. Ma’a Nonu looped around and broke through the line before putting boot to ball. The cover defense was caught out and Jason Higgins arrived first for the grounding. Henderson’s conversion made it 21-12 to the home side at the half.

Cowan found himself in trouble early in the second half. Jeremiah Sio took off on a counter-attack and was met by a swinging arm straight to the end from the San Diego skipper. After a TMO review a red card was the only option and Cowan now faces a nervous wait to see if he will play any part in the postseason.

Despite the numerical disadvantage the Legion stayed on the attack. Henderson sliced through for a try, and then Ben Mitchell was binned for a shoulder charge on Isaac Ross. Just after the restart Shilo Klein made a line break, and when the ball was recycled Matyas was waiting with open arms on the right side to round the corner for another try.

Nate Augspurger saw yellow after an aerial collision with Cole Zarcone at the hour mark. With San Diego temporarily down to just 13 men Ronan Foley was held up. Christian Poidevin took Cowan’s spot and then Sio swerved his way past two defenders to score. The final say went to Higgins who went in under the posts for a double.

It’s a week off for the Legion, who now await the winner of next weekend’s clash between Houston and Seattle before hosting the Western Conference Final on July 2. The Seawolves will bring back their first choice side to host the SaberCats on Satuday.

 

 

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 40
Tries (6) – F. Kearns (9’), M. Te’o (31’), J. Higgins 2 (40’, 74’), J. Henderson (49’), R. Matyas (51’)
Cons (5) – J. Henderson 4/5 (10’, 32’, 40’+1’, 49’), No kick (74’)
YC (1) – N. Augspurger (61’)
RC (1) – B. Cowan (44’)

SEATTLE 19
Tries (3) – D. Ferris (25’), L. Aisea (33’), J. Sio (71’)
Cons (2) – No kick (25’), D. Ferris 0/1, K. Keane 1/1 (72’)
YC (1) – B. Mitchell (49’)

 

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (18 Oliver Kane 76’), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Shilo Klein 49’), 3 Chris Baumann (17 Faka’osi Pifeleti 55’), 4 Tom Franklin (19 Chris Turori 59’), 5 Isaac Ross (20 Ben Grant 59’), 6 Michael Smith, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.) (21 Christian Poidevin 64’), 8 Finn Kearns, 9 Jason Higgins (23 Will Hooley 78’), 10 Josh Henderson, 11 Mikey Te’o, 12 Ma’a Nonu (22 Nate Augspurger 59’), 13 Filimoni Waqainabete, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Alex Horan

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Dewald Donald (17 Jake Turnbull 59’), 2 James Malcolm (16 Alex Glover 74’), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Taniela Tupou 59’), 4 Isaia Lotawa, 5 Ben Mitchell, 6 Adam Page (20 Jamie Demers 49’-60’, 72’), 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Ronan Foley (capt.) (19 Brandon Tupufia 76’), 9 Reid Watkins (21 Karl Keane 49’), 10 Devereaux Ferris (22 Adriaan Carelse 72’), 11 Jeremiah Sio, 12 Lopeti Aisea (23 Tavite Lopeti 72’), 13 David Busby, 14 Cole Zarcone, 15 Shane Barry

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jack Gohl (USA) & Marquise Goodwin (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)