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Joel Hodgson scored 18 points including a match-winning penalty goal to lead the Warriors to a 33-32 result over the Legion on Sunday. Utah’s first-ever victory in San Diego snapped a five-game win streak for the Legion, and dealt the home side their first ever defeat at Snapdragon Stadium.
Early on it was the Legion who took the initiative. Connor Tupai made ground as he broke from a scrum, and Ma’a Nonu smashed over the gainline on the next phase. The game stopped as medics attended to a downed Saia Uhila, but the big lock carried on and when play resumed Lincoln McClutchie took three points off the tee to open the scoring.
Uhila found himself in trouble for cynical play and was admonished with a yellow card. San Diego opted for a scrum instead of points but Dylan Nel spoiled their attack with a turnover at the breakdown. It was only a temporary reprieve. The Warriors couldn’t clear their lines and Tupai went quick at a penalty, catching the defense out of sorts to sprint home under the posts.
Once back at full strength Utah grasped some momentum. Paul Lasike’s short pass on the gainline sent Nel through a gap, and one recycle later Caleb Makene was through for the finish. Adding injury to insult, San Diego lost both Tiaan Loots and Blair Cowan at the half-hour mark. Ethan Grayson came into the midfield with Cyrille Cama taking Cowan’s spot on the flank.
A yellow card was handed to Chris Mickelson for playing the ball off his feet at the breakdown, and Hodgson took the points on offer to draw the scores level. He would miss a long-range effort soon after, but made up for it with a searing break on a counter-attack. Quick hands from Mika Kruse sent Michel Manson over for the try to make it 17-10 to the visitors after 40 minutes.
Both sides earned points early in the second half. Grayson’s inside angle put the Warriors on the retreat and Jay Tuivaiti offloaded to Tevita Tameilau for a try, with McClutchie’s conversion drawing the scores level. It didn’t stay tied for long, with a breakdown penalty handing another three to Hodgson.
The Warriors jumped ahead when Manson looped around on a set play from a scrum and had too much gas for the defense to claim a double. Another incisive run by Manson backed up the Legion and repeat penalties resulted in Tuivaiti going to the bin. Hodgson tacked on three more and Utah were now 13 points ahead of their hosts.
San Diego’s comeback began when a kick to space from Tupai bounced fortuitously for Mikey Te’o to ground just before the dead ball line. Just a couple minutes later Alex Horan took an inside line on first phase off a lineout, and Cama steamed onto the ball at speed to claim the try and make it a one-point game heading into the second hydration break.
Makene couldn’t quite manage a high ball from Te’o and the Legion were soon on advantage. McClutchie’s drop goal attempt just missed but his strike off the tee was true, nudging San Diego ahead by two. Their own discipline faltered, however, and handed another kick to Hodgson with five minutes to play that proved decisive.
The final moments of the match were dramatic as Utah first won a scrum against the head, but then saw possession ripped away by Charlie Hewitt in a maul. One last advance from the Legion was stopped dead by a thumping tackle from Bailey Wilson that dislodged possession and allowed the Warriors to send the ball into the stands for full-time.
It’s a very short turnaround for the victors, as the Warriors now head home to prepare for Friday night’s clash against Old Glory DC at Zions Bank Stadium. San Diego face another Western Conference rival as they face the SaberCats in Houston on Saturday.
| SCORING |
SAN DIEGO 32
Tries (4) – C. Tupai (21′), T. Tameilau (42′), M. Te’o (56′), C. Cama (59′)
Cons (3) – No kick (21′), L. McClutchie 2/3 (43′, 60′)
Pens (2) – L. McClutchie 2/2 (4′, 65′)
DG (0) – L. McClutchie 0/1
YC (2) – C. Mickelson (35′), J. Tuivaiti (51′)
UTAH 33
Tries (3) – C. Makene (28′), M. Manson 2 (40′, 47′)
Cons (3) – J. Hodgson 3/3 (29′, 40’+1′, 48′)
Pens (4) – J. Hodgson 4/5 (37′, 45′, 52′, 75′)
YC (1) – S. Uhila (17′)
| LINEUPS |
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio (17 Nathan Sylvia 50′), 2 Chris Mickelson, 3 Darcy Breen (18 Luke Green 65′), 4 Jay Tuivaiti, 5 Greg Peterson (19 Charlie Hewitt 75′), 6 Vili Helu, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.) (16 Cyrille Cama 30′), 8 Tevita Tameilau (20 Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi 71′), 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Ma’a Nonu (22 Alex Horan 55′), 13 Tiaan Loots (23 Ethan Grayson 29′), 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Mikey Te’o
Not used: 21 Danny Christensen
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Emerson Prior 52′), 2 Nic Souchon (16 Phil Bradford 52′), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Paul Mullen 52′), 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila (20 Bailey Wilson 52′), 6 Frank Lochore, 7 Dylan Nel, 8 Thomas Tu’avao (19 Onehunga Havili 60′), 9 Zion Going (21 Kieran McClea 60′), 10 Joel Hodgson (capt.), 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike (23 Alesana Pohla 52′), 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Caleb Makene
Not used: 22 Robbie Povey
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, April 21
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 15:00 local
Weather: sunny, 69°F (20°C), wind W 5-10mph (8-16km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Peter Pender (Canada) & Fernando García (Mexico)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
