Legion end Gold’s playoff dreams

photo credit: Mike McGinnis / Epic Fotos / San Diego Legion

Recap

The San Diego Legion defeated the NOLA Gold 22-10 on Sunday evening to clinch first overall in the regular season and home field advantage for the Championship Series. In doing so they also brought the curtains down on NOLA’s season, the early season contenders losing their fourth straight to crash out of the playoff picture. An impressive crowd was on hand at Torero Stadium to take in the match though an official attendance number was not immediately available.

Two late changes damaged the Gold’s confidence before kickoff. Kyle Baillie and Scott Gale both dropped out, replaced by Nikola Bursic and Taylor Howden. An early penalty goal from JP Eloff seemed to reassure the side, but things started to go downhill at the half hour mark.

San Diego started to press after the hydration break with their defense shutting down all of NOLA’s best attacking efforts. A break came when Joshua Furno snatched up a loose ball, the new man connecting with Jasa Veremalua who in turn put Conor Kearns into space. They were stopped short but the Gold could not escape their own end. Eventually the pressure yielded the game’s first try as Paddy Ryan barged over from close range.

New Orleans suffered another blow as captain Eric Howard was forced off. They earned an attacking lineout but Con Foley’s long pass was picked off by Furno, who again found Veremalua in close support and this time the Fijian needed nobody else to pass to as he touched down under the sticks for seven.

The killer blow came early in the second half. Ryan’s huge cutout pass put Kearns in space, which was followed up by strong runs from JP du Plessis and Ryan himself. The Legion were relentless as Kearns and then du Plessis were stopped just short. Finally it was Mike Te’o who picked and powered his way over from short range.

A huge breakout from Nick Feakes gave hope to the Gold and eventually led to their first and only try. Soft hands from Kane Thompson put Nikola Bursic through a gap and he beat two more on the way to the line.

That would be the last say for the visitors. Joe Pietersen landed a penalty goal for insurance and the dominant Legion defense reigned supreme until the final whistle sounded.

 

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 22
Tries – P. Ryan (33’), J. Veremalua (38’), M. Te’o (45’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 2/3 (34’, 39’)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (62’)

NEW ORLEANS 10
Tries – N. Bursic (51’)
Cons – J. Eloff 1/1 (52’)
Pens – J. Eloff 1/1 (5’)

 

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (16 Nathan Sylvia HT), 2 Kapeli Pifeleti (17 Pat Blair 63’), 3 Paddy Ryan (21 Dino Waldren 63’), 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua (18 Siaosi Mahoni 68’), 7 Psalm Wooching (19 Keni Nasoqeqe 63’), 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.) (23 Tai Enosa 76’), 11 Nick Boyer, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Conor Kearns (20 Will Holder 73’), 15 Mike Te’o (22 Save Totovosau 52’)

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (18 Kevin Sullivan 73’), 2 Eric Howard (capt.) (17 Cam Falcon 34’), 3 Ross Davies (16 Hubert Buydens 47’), 4 Nikola Bursic (20 John Sullivan 76’), 5 Billy Stewart (19 Kane Thompson 47’), 6 Ignacio Dotti, 7 Zack Stryffeler (21 Moni Tonga’uiha 47’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert (22 Michael Baska 68’), 10 Taylor Howden, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 Con Foley, 13 Tristan Blewett, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 JP Eloff

Not used: 23 Joeli Tikoisuva

 

Result

TeamTCPDPoints
San Diego Legion321022
NOLA Gold111010

San Diego Legion

1Faka’osi Pifeleti 16 Loosehead Prop
2Kapeli Pifeleti 17 Hooker
3Paddy Ryan 21 Tighthead Prop
4Louis Stanfill Right Lock
5Joshua Furno Left Lock
6Jasa Veremalua 18 Blindside Flanker
7Psalm Wooching 19 Openside Flanker
8Jordan Manihera Number Eight
9Nate Augspurger Scrumhalf
10Joe Pietersen 23 Flyhalf
11Nick Boyer Left Wing
12JP du Plessis Inside Center
13Ryan Matyas Outside Center
14Conor Kearns 20 Right Wing
15Mike Te’o 22 Fullback
16Nathan Sylvia 1 Loosehead Prop
17Pat Blair 2 Hooker
18Siaosi Mahoni 6 Right Lock
19Keni Nasoqeqe 7 Openside Flanker
20Will Holder 14 Fullback
21Dino Waldren 3 Tighthead Prop
22Save Totovosau 15 Right Wing
23Tai Enosa 10 Flyhalf

NOLA Gold

1Matt Harmon 18 Loosehead Prop
2Eric Howard 17 Hooker
3Ross Davies 16 Tighthead Prop
4Nikola Bursic 20 Left Lock
5Billy Stewart 19 Right Lock
6Ignacio Dotti Blindside Flanker
7Zack Stryffeler 21 Openside Flanker
8Cam Dolan Number Eight
9Holden Yungert 22 Scrumhalf
10Taylor Howden Flyhalf
11Nick Feakes Left Wing
12Con Foley Inside Center
13Tristan Blewett Outside Center
14Tim Maupin Right Wing
15JP Eloff Fullback
16Hubert Buydens 3 Loosehead Prop
17Cam Falcon 2 Hooker
18Kevin Sullivan 1 Tighthead Prop
19Kane Thompson 5 Left Lock
20John Sullivan 4 Blindside Flanker
21Moni Tonga’uiha 7 Openside Flanker
22Michael Baska 9 Scrumhalf
23Joeli Tikoisuva Wing

Officials

Referee
Scott Green (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Paul-Henri Courbier (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Austin Reed (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
June 2, 2019 5:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019

Venue

Torero Stadium
6112 Linda Vista Rd, San Diego, CA 92110, USA

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