Glendale earn second draw against San Diego

Recap

Pre-match predictions were split and the feeling turned out to be correct as the Glendale Raptors fought to a 28-all draw with the San Diego Legion at Infinity Park on Saturday night. The Raptors were painfully close to a victory but Joe Pietersen’s sideline conversion in stoppage time saved a tie for San Diego and awarded each team three points with the try bonus.

The first try was aided by a bit of fortune for San Diego. Dylan Taikato-Simpson bobbled the ball in-goal and the referee ruled it a knock-on despite the replay showing otherwise. The Legion took full advantage, with their scrum blasting the Raptors back over their own line as Jordan Manihera reached out to score his second try in as many games.

Will Magie missed on a penalty attempt but made good on his conversion after Mika Kruse put John Ryberg into the corner with a looping miss-pass for his league-leading sixth try of the season. The scores were level and the two sides would trade shots through the final whistle.

San Diego’s forwards had the edge in the tight-loose and Oti Pifeleti broke off the back of a maul, driving his legs until he crossed for a try. Pietersen had no trouble with the kick and the teams went into the change rooms with the visitors ahead by one score.

A pivotal moment came in the 46th minute when the assistant referee spotted Keni Nasoqeqe connecting on a Glendale player with a swinging arm at a ruck. He was duly sent to the bin and the numerical disadvantage cost the Legion dearly.

Kruse was next to score himself though it would prove controversial. As the outside center tip-toed down the sideline he was tackled high by Paddy Ryan but managed to touch the ball down in the corner. While the replay showed the officials had erred in ruling Kruse in-field, the awarded try arguably spared San Diego another yellow card.

Shaun Davies would score the third try soon after, with San Diego’s defense on the retreat and space opening up in front of the Raptors captain. Magie nailed his third conversion and the Legion were in danger of letting the game slip.

A reprieve came when Conor Kearns stabbed a grubber through to Mike Te’o, who stepped his way through for a converted try. Again the referee asked for help from his assistant and this time the call appeared to be correct with Te’o just barely keeping his boot on the right side of the sideline.

The Raptors again fired back with some nifty back-play of their own. For the fifth game in a row Taikato-Simpson attached the outside and popped a no-look pass to Harley Davidson, the winger finishing in style to capture the bonus point and re-take the lead.

It looked as though the Raptors might have enough to hold out but San Diego did not give up. After winning two scrum penalties they opted instead for a lineout, and though the maul was stopped they kept on the pressure until JP du Plessis made it through in the corner. Pietersen’s kick was inch-perfect and the whistle sounded for full-time.

SCORING

GLENDALE 28
Tries – J. Ryberg (13’), M. Kruse (49’), S. Davies (53’), H. Davidson (65’)
Cons – W. Magie 4/4 (14’, 50’, 54’, 66’)
Pens – W. Magie 0/1

SAN DIEGO 28
Tries – J. Manihera (3’), F. Pifeleti (34’), M. Te’o (56’), J. du Plessis (80’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 4/4 (4’, 35’, 57’, 80’)
Yellow cards – K. Nasoqeqe (46’)

TEAMS

GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Zach Fenoglio (16 Chad Gough 50’), 3 Kelepi Fifita (17 Marco Fepulea’i 47’-72’), 4 Casey Rock (18 Max Lum 63’), 5 Luke White, 6 Brendan Daly, 7 Hanco Germishuys (20 Connor Cook HT), 8 Malon Al-Jiboori (19 Will Munro 57’), 9 Shaun Davies (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Robbie Petzer (23 Chad London HT), 13 Mika Kruse, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson

Not used: 21 Mickey Bateman, 22 Ata Malifa

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (18 Aaron Mitchell 62’), 2 Dean Muir (17 Kapeli Pifeleti 71’), 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Siaosi Mahoni (19 Jasa Veremalua 52’), 5 Keni Nasoqeqe, 6 Psalm Wooching (16 Pat Blair 7’-14’), 7 Devin Short (16 Pat Blair 71’), 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.), 11 Conor Kearns (21 Nick Boyer 63’), 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Kyle Rogers (22 Tai Enosa 66’)

Not used: 20 Drew Gaffney, 23 Nick Lupian