San Diego hands opening week loss to defending champs Seattle

The San Diego Legion got one back on the Seattle Seawolves, taking a 33-24 victory over the defending champions in front of a strong crowd Torero Stadium on Sunday. It was an exciting contest from start to finish but inaccuracy at the set piece ultimately cost them dearly.

Discipline issues hit San Diego early and gifted Brock Staller with two shots at goal. He uncharacteristically pushed the first to the right but made good on the second to give the visitors an early lead.

It was extended on a set move from a lineout at halfway. Nakai Penny split the defense and sprinted clear inside the San Diego 22. He was eventually tackled but the ball was recycled in double quick fashion and Riekert Hattingh’s line was judged to perfection, taking a flat pass from JP Smith in under the sticks to make it 10-nil to the Seawolves.

The Legion regrouped in goal and fired back quickly, and with interest. Dean Muir hit Psalm Wooching in the lineout and the maul was executed to perfection with Muir getting the credit for the score.

A few short minutes later and Nate Augspurger ripped the ball free in a tackle after an aggressive kick-chase from Save Totovosau pinned Seattle deep in their end. Quick hands after the turnover flung the ball wide left and the final pass went just beyond Ross Neal’s outstretched hand an into the bread basket of JP du Plessis for an easy try.

Muir would score his second just before halftime. Joshua Furno was the lineout target this time, and the Seattle pack split with surprising ease to let San Diego’s hooker in for five. Luke Burton made it seven and the Legion took a 19-10 lead to the sheds.

Just two minutes after the restart the home side was at it again. Ma’a Nonu fired a flat pass wide and hit Totovosau in stride. The big Fijian winger powered straight down the line, brushing off three defenders to score a sensational try.

San Diego made it 33 unanswered points ahead of the hydration break. It was Nonu again with the set-up, a short draw and pass fixing two defenders to free Dylan Audsley. Jasa Veremalua was on hand to take the inside ball and showed a clean pair of heels to the trailing defense.

The Seawolves brought on fresh legs and finally got a try of their own. Vili Toluta’u, now playing hooker, took a page from Muir’s copybook as he popped off the back of a driving maul and slid over the line.

Seattle turned up the pressure and the San Diego defense held strong until George Barton ran hard and straight through the middle to slide in for a converted try. Peter Malcolm was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle in the build-up and suddenly there was life back in the green jerseys.

Mistakes crept in for both sides as the tension ramped up. Scott Dean drilled a penalty kick into the corner but Toluta’u missed the lineout throw and then took his frustration out on Furno, earning the Seawolves hooker a seat on the sidelines for the remainder of the match. Seattle would keep pressing but time ran out with no further scoring.

The Legion head to Las Vegas next weekend for a date with the Colorado Raptors on Sunday. It’s another road tilt for the Seawolves, this time on the east coast as they take on expansion side Old Glory DC.

 

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 33
Tries – D. Muir 2 (17’, 38’), J. du Plessis (22’), S. Totovosau (42’), J. Veremalua (53′)
Cons – L. Burton 4/5 (23’, 39’, 43’, 54′)
Yellow cards – P. Malcolm (66′)

SEATTLE 24
Tries – R. Hattingh (13’), V. Toluta’u (58′), G. Barton (66′)
Cons – B. Staller 1/1 (14’), S. Dean 2/2 (59′, 67′)
Pens – B. Staller 1/2 (6’)
Yellow cards – V. Toluta’u (74’)

 

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia 47’), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 47’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Aaron Mitchell 59′), 4 Siaosi Mahoni (19 Louis Stanfill 47′), 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching (20 Malon Al-Jiboori 68′), 8 Tevita Tameilau (2 Dean Muir 68′-76′) (21 Devin Short 76′), 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Luke Burton, 11 Dylan Audsley, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Mike Te’o

Not used: 22 Devereaux Ferris, 23 Tira Patterson

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (16 Kellen Gordon 51′), 2 Mike Shepherd (6 Vili Toluta’u 55′), 3 Tim Metcher (17 Jake Ilnicki 51′), 4 Brad Tucker (18 Jérémy Lenaerts 55′), 5 FP Pelser, 6 Vili Toluta’u (19 Eric Duechle 51′), 7 Nakai Penny (2 Mike Shepherd 77′), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Scott Dean, 11 David Busby, 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 Ross Neal (21 George Barton HT), 14 Brock Staller (22 Siti Tamaivena 56′), 15 Mat Turner

Not used: 20 Jope Motokana, 23 Suli Tamaivena

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistants: Paul-Henri Courbier (USA) & Marquise Goodwin (USA)