San Diego spoils Utah’s MLR debut

Recap

It wasn’t the prettiest at times but San Diego got their first official Major League Rugby win as they defeated the Utah Warriors by 31-24 at Torero Stadium on Sunday. Both teams made frustrating errors and there were some strange decisions made under pressure. In the end the fast start for the Legion and wider attack was enough to get the result.

The much-maligned San Diego forwards were fired up from the kickoff and one could be forgiven for thinking this was a completely different team to the one that was given a hiding in Seattle. At the end of 10 minutes the Legion had 12 points on the board with one try from each of the props, both set up by driving mauls. They had also won a penalty at the scrum.

That initial exuberance came at a cost. As the adrenaline wore off Utah began to exert their own physical dominance. Now back on their heels the San Diego defense could not hold out forever and Joseph Nicholls sniped through a gap and over the line. The pressure continued and from a scrum Saia Uhila tore off the back and was in under the posts with worrying ease. Kurt Morath converted both to give the Warriors a two-point lead.

What should have held to the intermission was instead squandered. Utah’s discipline failed and after five minutes of added time in the first half San Diego went over in the corner. An under-hand flip pass from Tadhg Leader found Devin Short and the young flanker grounded the ball just inside the corner flag.

The two teams continued to jostle for position in the second half. Utah’s scrum began to dominate but the speed of the San Diego backs was becoming a problem. A half-charged Leader kick bounced fortuitously and Anthony Salaber was there to pick it up, stepping inside the unstructured defense and showing a clean pair of heels to the cover.

Utah won a penalty and down 10 points they opted for the sticks, Morath obliging with a successful strike. The Legion went one better moments later. With possession inside Warriors territory Leader sent a picture-perfect cross kick that hit Ryan Matyas in full stride and the winger touched down for a vital score. Dylan Audsley took over the kicking duties and calmly nailed the conversion from a challenging angle.

At 14 points the gap looked too much but the Warriors made it interesting in the final minutes. Ben Nicholls followed his brother’s earlier score with one of his own and an ill-advised decision by Nate Augspurger to kick with time nearly up handed the ball back to Utah. Just as it looked like the might break through some careless handling saw the ball knocked on and their chance for a last minute draw and potential four-try bonus evaporated.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 31
Tries – S. Tu’ihalamaka (2’), T. Purpura (9’), D. Short (40’), A. Salaber (56’), R. Matyas (68’)
Cons – T. Leader 2/4 (3’, 57’), D. Audsley 1/1 (69’)
Pens – T. Leader 0/1

UTAH 24
Tries – J. Nicholls (28’), S. Uhila (38’), B. Nicholls (76’)
Cons – K. Morath 3/3 (29’, 39’, 76’)
Pens – K. Morath 1/3 (65’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Sione Tu’ihalamaka (17 Aaron Mitchell 44’), 2 Pat Blair (16 Gil Covey 68’), 3 Tony Purpura, 4 Siaosi Mahoni (20 Lance Lamprecht 54’), 5 Jay Harmon, 6 Chris Turori, 7 Devin Short (19 Derrick Broussard 65’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Tadhg Leader (22 Ben Cima 68’), 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Anthony Salaber, 14 Taku Ngwenya, 15 Dylan Audsley

Not used: 18 Tasi Toilolo, 21 Nick Boyer, 23 Naima Fuala’au

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci, 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu (16 Alex Vorster 57’), 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Kory Olsen (17 Maika Hafoka 63’), 6 Kenny Scott (19 David Tameilau HT), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Saia Uhila, 9 Joseph Nicholls (21 Ben Nicholls 67’), 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 12 Paul Lasike (capt.), 13 Jared Whippy (22 Paki Afu 63’), 14 Josh Anderson, 15 Tonata Lauti (23 Don Pati 75’)

Not used: 18 John Martinez, 20 AJ Tu’ineau