LA edges Austin in ferocious contest at the Coliseum

The LA Giltinis lifted the Gilly’s Cup with a 10-8 victory over the Austin Gilgronis on Sunday. It was a ferocious battle from start to finish at the Coliseum, with the home side putting an end to a five-game AG winning streak while at the same time extending their own to seven games.

Points were difficult to come by and it was a scrum penalty that gave Harrison Goddard the first opportunity to strike, which he duly obliged. Will Magie responded with a three-pointer of his own after LA were caught illegally slowing the ball down at a ruck.

Magie missed a second shot but the Giltinis couldn’t clear and the AG’s won an attacking lineout. Payton Telea-Ilalio peeled around the front and Hugh Roach drove over for what looked to be the first try, but it was called back as the video review revealed a clear obstruction from Roach in the build-up.

Instead it was LA who grabbed hold of the game with the first try. Dave Dennis powered through the line and found Nathan Den Hoedt in support. A quick recycle found Ben LeSage in space on the right, and he found his way to the line. Goddard added the extras to make it 10-3, a score that would hold to the intermission after Goddard sliced his second penalty attempt.

The collisions reverberated around the stadium in the second half and it was almost at the hour mark until another attempt at the posts was taken. Magie couldn’t find his mark, however, and the AG’s remained frustrated.

That would only grow as a superb run from Cam Dodson was all for naught. Another lineout peel saw Isaac Ross breaking around the short side, with Dodson busting three tackles to reach out and score. Again the TMO rejected the effort, with Ross well inside the 5-meter line on the throw-in.

The AG pack rolled up their sleeves and hammered away at the LA line. After countless attempts that took the clock well past the 80-minute mark, the ball went wide to Chris Mattina who sliced through a gap to score. Magie lined up the kick to tie, but pulled it just to the left of the upright and the flags stayed down.

Austin remain in top spot in the West for now but with a bye week the door is open for LA to inch closer if they can win on the road against San Diego next Sunday. The AG’s return to action on May 21 against the Warriors in Utah.

 

SCORING

LA 10
Tries – B. LeSage (30′)
Cons – H. Goddard 1/1 (31′)
Pens – H. Goddard 1/2 (13′)

AUSTIN 8
Tries – C. Mattina (80’+3′)
Cons – W. Magie 0/1
Pens – W. Magie 1/3 (16′)

 

TEAMS

LA GILTINIS
1 Andrew Tuala (17 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin 60′), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Lindsey Stevens 65′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Charlie Abel 52′), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Luke White, 6 Nathan Den Hoedt, 7 Christian Poidevin (20 Cyrille Cama 71′), 8 Corey Thomas (19 Langilangi Haupeakui 61′), 9 Tas Smith (21 Luke Burton 31′-HT, 60′), 10 Harrison Goddard, 11 Tom Mitchell, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 John Ryberg (23 Will Chambers 60′), 15 Jordan Trainor

Not used: 22 Cristian Rodriguez

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio (17 Jake Turnbull 60′), 2 Hugh Roach (16 Mason Koch 68′), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 LaRome White 74′), 4 Cam Dodson (20 Christian Ostberg 73′), 5 Sebastian de Chaves (19 Isaac Ross 52′), 6 Locky McCaffrey (22 Luke Beauchamp 60′), 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Ryan Louwrens (21 Pele Cowley 52′), 10 Will Magie, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (23 Chris Mattina 60′), 15 Marcel Brache

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jack Gohl (Australia) & Tim Lew (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)