Strong second half gives Legion win over Gold

Two tries from Ma’a Nonu helped San Diego win their fourth in a row as they came away from New Orleans with a 25-21 result over the Gold on Saturday. The Legion held NOLA scoreless in the second half with two late penalties from Joe Pietersen sealing the come-from-behind victory.

NOLA were the better side in the first half. A long sequence moved them up the field until a penalty gave them an attacking lineout. San Diego’s maul defense was found wanting, as Moni Tonga’uiha split off around the blindside and dove over for the first try.

A reply came soon after. Luke Burton’s cross-kick in his own end found Dylan Audsley, and Pietersen popped up on his inside to break free to NOLA’s 22. Save Totovosau took the pass from his captain and got to within a couple meters of the line. Two quick phases later and Nonu was sauntering over around an undefended left flank.

The tide turned Gold again after the hydration break. Joshua Furno was sent to the bin for an early tackle on JP Eloff. A penalty try was mysteriously not awarded, but it made no difference as Dino Waldren would barge over from short range just a couple minutes later.

Another yellow was brandished, this time to Carl Meyer for a one-handed disruption of a Legion attack. When Furno returned San Diego had the numerical advantage and they made it count. Burton hit Keni Nasoqeqe with a flat pass, the big No8 proving unstoppable from 10 meters.

Despite remaining shorthanded there was still time for another NOLA score before halftime. After Eloff had pushed a penalty attempt wide, Robbie Coleman picked out Paul Mullen in the backline and sped past the prop with ease en route to a try. Eloff’s conversion made it 21-12 heading into the sheds.

The second half told a completely different story to the first. San Diego dominated possession and territory with not a single scoring opportunity handed to their hosts. NOLA held out as long as they could but on the hour mark Nonu ran straight through the backline for his second with Pietersen’s conversion making it a two-point game.

Mere moments later the captain would complete the comeback with a routine penalty. The Legion would not let the gold out of their half and one last Pietersen kick would ice the game a minute before full-time.

It’s another home game for the Gold next Saturday as they host the New England Free Jacks in an East Conference showdown. San Diego head home for a Sunday afternoon rematch of the 2019 Semi Final as Rugby United New York look to avenge that famous defeat.

 

SCORING

NOLA 21
Tries – M. Tonga’uiha (6’), D. Waldren (28’), R. Coleman (40’)
Cons – C. Meyer 2/2 (7’, 29’), J. Eloff 1/1 (40’)
Pens – J. Eloff 0/1
Yellow cards – C. Meyer (32’)

SAN DIEGO 25
Tries – M. Nonu 2 (10’, 60’), K. Nasoqeqe (35’)
Cons – L. Burton 1/2 (11’), J. Pietersen 1/1 (61’)
Pens – L. Burton 0/1, J. Pietersen 2/2 (65’, 79’)
Yellow cards – J. Furno (25’)

 

TEAMS

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 67’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Cam Falcon 67’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Ben Tarr 51’), 4 Billy Stewart (19 Kane Thompson 62’), 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 6 Nikola Bursic (21 Malcolm May 55’), 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Scott Gale (22 Holden Yungert 58’), 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Con Foley, 13 Carl Meyer (20 John Sullivan 72’), 14 Tim Maupin (23 Nick Feakes 62’), 15 JP Eloff

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Jamie Dever HT), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Dean Muir HT), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Aaron Mitchell HT), 4 Ben Mitchell (19 Siaosi Mahoni 58’), 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Keni Nasoqeqe (20 Louis Stanfill 58’), 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Dylan Audsley, 12 Ma’a Nonu (22 Josh Thiel 62’), 13 JP du Plessis (21 Ryan Matyas 14’), 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Joe Pietersen (capt.)

Not used: 23 Devin Short

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Allen Alongi (USA)