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A 21-point performance from Joe Pietersen led the San Diego Legion to a 31-27 win over the Giltinis on Sunday evening. It brings LA’s seven-game winning streak to a halt and sees the Cali Cup returning to San Diego, in what was a fitting end to the Legion’s stay at the Sports Deck.
The Legion moved into scoring position just moments into the game, but Will Hooley couldn’t connect on an early shot at goal. Another opportunity would come soon after and this time Joe Pietersen stepped up to the tee, the ball finding sailing through the uprights for three points.
LA gained possession and methodically worked their way into San Diego territory. A penalty handed them an attacking lineout. Billy Meakes came in from the midfield to act as an unorthodox jumper, and the drive did its job with Andrew Tuala taking credit for the score. Harrison Goddard’s conversion was on target and the visitors had the lead.
San Diego pushed back with their forwards taking it close to LA’s line. Hooley’s wide pass found Pietersen surrounded by defenders, but they drifted too far and left a gap for the fullback to slide under and score. He would convert his own try, and add two penalty goals as the Legion stretched out to a 16-7 advantage.
Meakes made a more conventional impact with a straight run up the middle. The ball was recycled and Jordan Trainor nearly crossed out wide, handing it off to Will Chambers at the last moment for the winger to simply reach over and ground the ball. The kick was too wide for Goddard to add the extra two.
A late hit on Hooley gave Pietersen another crack at the posts and he duly obliged. The visitors then won a penalty with time expired in the half, but Goddard’s attempt to hit the corner for a lineout went too far and the ball went dead.
Ma’a Nonu hadn’t yet made an impression but he gave a reminder of his class 10 minutes into the second half. From a scrum collapse Jason Higgins went quick and passed straight to Nonu, who shrugged off the challenging of Meakes and Goddard to crash over the line.
Back came the Giltinis and Meakes came close but knocked on in the act of scoring. They would get a second shot from a lineout. Zach Bonte was the target, and for a second time it was Tuala with the ball when the drive went over. Goddard pulled his conversion attempt wide of the left post.
Changes at the hydration break saw Luke Burton taking over the kicking duties from Goddard, and he slotted a penalty to close the gap. San Diego nearly got a try in a pile of bodies but the ball was held up. From the restart Hooley tried a long-range drop kick that fell short, and the Nonu attempted one himself that just missed to the right.
Tas Smith dropped a high ball from Hooley and gave the ball back to the Legion. They attacked the center and then switched direction, with Hooley stabbing a picture-perfect grubber for Matías Freyre to regather and score just moments after the Argentine had entered the match.
With time winding down there was enough left in LA’s tank to push back into San Diego territory and Cyrille Cama reached out to ground the ball for the bonus-point try. Burton’s conversion landed, but there would be no further opportunities as the Legion controlled possession through to the final whistle.
Both teams are on the road next Saturday. LA travels to Texas for a date with the Dallas Jackals, while the Legion will need another big effort against the NOLA Gold to keep their playoff hopes alive.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 31
Tries – J. Pietersen (17′), M. Nonu (50′), M. Freyre (72′)
Cons – J. Pietersen 2/3 (18′, 51′)
Pens – W. Hooley 0/1, J. Pietersen 4/4 (6′, 21′, 29′, 36′)
DG – W. Hooley 0/1, M. Nonu 0/1
LA 27
Tries – A. Tuala 2 (11′, 58′), W. Chambers (31′), C. Cama (75′)
Cons – H. Goddard 1/3 (12′), L. Burton 1/1 (76′)
Pens – L. Burton 1/1 (67′)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Joe Walsh, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Hencus van Wyk (18 Chris Baumann 76′), 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Jale Railala, 6 Chris Robshaw (20 Michael Smith 51′), 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Tevita Tameilau (19 Chris Turori 67′), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Will Hooley, 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.), 13 Tiaan Loots (23 Matías Freyre 71′), 14 Bjorn Basson, 15 Joe Pietersen
Not used: 16 Chris Schade, 17 Pat Lynott, 21 Nico Gilli, 22 Josh Thiel
LA GILTINIS
1 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 51′), 2 Andrew Tuala (16 Lindsey Stevens 60′), 3 Charlie Abel (18 Marco Fepulea’i 51′), 4 Luke White (capt.) (19 Langilangi Haupeakui 54′), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Zach Bonte (20 Cyrille Cama 60′), 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Corey Thomas, 9 Tas Smith, 10 Harrison Goddard, 11 Tom Mitchell, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Luke Burton 60′), 14 Will Chambers, 15 Jordan Trainor (23 John Ryberg 65′)
Not used: 21 Cristian Rodriguez
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Alexis Alfaro (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
