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San Diego have now won eight consecutive matches as they stretched their lead at the top of the table with a 26-16 result over the Utah Warriors on Saturday night. The Legion were trailing after a difficult 40 minutes but broke away from their hosts with a convincing second half performance.
An early counter-attack from the home side led to a Joe Mano break down the left sideline. He was stopped by a last-gasp tackle from Isaac Ross, but the ball was recycled quickly with Olive Kilifi stepping in to play halfback. The attack ended with Logan Tago crossing in the corner for the opening try with just under seven minutes played.
Behind the play Ma’a Nonu was spotted making a dangerous tackle on Joel Hodgson. A TMO review resulted in a yellow card for the San Diego center, but the Legion hardly blinked. Shortly after the restart a penalty gave Luke Burton his first chance at the posts and he made no mistake.
The Warriors came roaring back and forced an attacking lineout. Just as Nonu returned, Ben Grant was binned for collapsing a maul. Utah’s forwards turned on the heat and Lance Williams crossed the line but he couldn’t ground the ball with Djustice Sears-Duru and Michael Smith combining to hold the flanker up.
When San Diego regained possession Tomas Aoake challenged the line and his offload put Mikey Te’o into space. Nonu was there in support but his pass was picked off by Onehunga Havili. A knock-on gave the ball straight back to the Legion and eventually yielded three more points from the boot of Burton.
Hodgson sold a dummy in his own end and broke out over halfway. The ball worked its way to Mano but he was felled by a high tackle from Te’o, who was admonished with a 10-minute break on the sideline. Utah exploited the overlap out wide with Caleb Makene racing into the corner to take a four-point lead into the halftime break.
Rain started to fall steadily at the start of the second half. San Diego were unfazed, and Ross made ground up the middle before feeing Smith. The Canadian flanker relayed to Matías Freyre who cut back inside and broke through Mano’s tackle attempt to score the first try for the Legion. Burton converted to put the visitors three points up.
The lead evaporated quickly as the Warriors won a penalty off the restart and Hodgson turned it into three points off the tee. Almost as quickly a breakdown penalty gave Burton at the sticks but it was pulled wide left. He would get another shot just two minutes later and this time his radar was accurate.
Another kicking exchange saw Hodgson leveling the score just before the hydration break only to see Will Hooley restoring San Diego’s lead on the other side. Utah nearly had a try after Calvin Whiting broke free up the middle but Makene couldn’t handle the offload with nobody home to prevent a certain try.
With time winding down the Legion took control of possession and territory. Utah had a chance to clear from just inside their own 22-meter line but Blair Cowan won a turnover and Smith tore around the unguarded side of the ruck. He flew through the gap and swerved around the cover, dragging Hodgson with him as he grounded the ball under the posts to secure the victory.
Both teams return to action next Saturday. San Diego will look to make it nine in a row when they face the Gold in New Orleans. Utah are also on the road with a visit to Arlington to take on the Dallas Jackals.
SCORING
UTAH 16
Tries (2) – L. Tago (7′), C. Makene (36′)
Cons (0) – J. Hodgson 0/2
Pens (2) – J. Hodgson 2/2 (46′, 62′)
SAN DIEGO 26
Tries (2) – M. Freyre (42′), M. Smith (76′)
Cons (1) – L. Burton 1/1 (43′), No kick (76′)
Pens (4) – L. Burton 3/4 (12′, 33′, 54′), W. Hooley 1/1 (64′)
YC (3) – M. Nonu (8′), B. Grant (19′), M. Te’o (35′)
TEAMS
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Emerson Prior 52′), 2 Henry Bell (16 Tuvere Vugakoto 67′), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 52′), 4 Jamie Lane, 5 Onehunga Havili (20 John DuPree 72′), 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Thomas Tu’avao (19 Jurie van Vuuren 59′), 9 Connor McLeod (21 Zion Going 72′), 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Logan Tago, 15 Caleb Makene (22 Tomasi Tonga 73′)
Not used: 23 Tyler Fisher
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Nathan Sylvia 54′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Sean McNulty 59′-67′), 3 Luke Green (18 Chris Baumann 67′), 4 Ben Grant, 5 Isaac Ross (19 Jale Railala 59′), 6 Michael Smith, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Luke Burton (23 Will Hooley 59′), 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Tomas Aoake, 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Matías Freyre
Not used: 20 Chris Turori, 21 Malakai Latu, 22 Jason Higgins
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Attendance: 3,714
