New York defeats San Diego in windy Vegas season opener

Recap

The first game of Major League Rugby’s return on Saturday after a year’s hiatus was unique to say the least. It was played at James Regional Sports Park in south Las Vegas, complete with lopsided uprights and a gale force wind unimpeded by any surrounding structures. Inebriated chalk lines provided a rough estimate of the field boundaries.

Perhaps the on-field result could have been expected given the conditions. General play was compromised by the wind with numerous knock-ons and stray passes. In the end Rugby United New York did enough to take a 36-29 result over the San Diego Legion who were technically the home side despite being displaced from their Torero Stadium stronghold.

New York’s discipline was poor from the start. Three penalties in rapid succession gave San Diego all the possession they needed to go through the phases and Siaosi Mahoni powered over the line for the first score of the 2021 campaign. Dylan Audsley’s conversion navigated the breeze to make it a full seven.

It took the visitors no time to reply. Dan Hollinshead kicked to the corner after the Legion were penalised to set up an attacking lineout, and Hanco Germishuys peeled off the back of the ensuing maul to fall over for the try. Hollinshead added the extras and it was all square.

The Legion fired back to retake the lead. Keni Nasoqeqe bounced through two defenders and Psalm Wooching ran a brilliant line to sprint clear from almost halfway and touch down under the sticks. Under the new law trials no conversion took place as the Legion were automatically awarded seven points.

Next it was New York’s turn to score. Fa’asiu Fuatai came in looking for work and the outside center slipped through for a try in his league debut. Within two minutes they had scored again, this time Will Leonard splitting the defense to score after his offload off the deck had put RUNY on the offensive.

Both sides struggled with the early pace of the game. The frantic opening calmed down after the hydration break and San Diego were next to capitalise. Frustrated by the handling errors they kept it tight and Cronan Gleeson has enough space to pounce over the line from in close. Audsley’s conversion made the score 21-19 at the half.

The advantage in the scrum for the most part went to New York, but an exception early in the second half gave Audsley a chance to tack on three points. RUNY made amends at the other end, with an inside ball from Hollinshead to a hard-charging Leonard giving him just enough space to reach out for his double.

Dylan Fawsitt grabbed the lead for his side on a short ball from Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo. From the restart failed to clear, however, and Jasa Veremalua’s offload led to a try in the corner for Ryan Matyas. A second Fawsitt score iced the result. This time it was from the more conventional route for the hooker on the back of a driving maul.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 29
Tries – S. Mahoni (4’), P. Wooching (11’), C. Gleeson (33’), R. Matyas (66’)
Cons – D. Audsley 2/3 (5’, 34’), No kick (11′)
Pens – D. Audsley 1/1 (48’)

NEW YORK 36
Tries – H. Germishuys (6’), F. Fuatai (18’), W. Leonard 2 (20’, 55’), D. Fawsitt 2 (62’, 69’)
Cons – D. Hollinshead 3/6 (7’, 19’, 63’)
Yellow cards – J. Rochford (39’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia HT), 2 Dean Muir (16 Peter Malcolm 25′), 3 Cronan Gleeson (18 Chris Baumann HT), 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Siaosi Mahoni (20 Travis Larsen 45′), 6 Keni Nasoqeqe, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau (19 Jasa Veremalua 61′), 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.) (21 Carlo de Nysschen 70’), 10 Josh Thiel (22 Santiago González Iglesias 70′), 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 Dylan Audsley, 13 Cameron Clark, 14 Save Totovosau (23 Bjorn Basson 56′), 15 Cecil Afrika

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 49’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Zak Taulafo (18 Wilton Rebolo 49’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Charlie Hewitt (19 Benjamín Bonasso 49′), 6 Hanco Germishuys (18 Wilton Rebolo 39’-49’), 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Will Leonard (21 Harry Bennett 67′), 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati, 15 Ben Foden

Not used: 16 Rob Irimescu, 20 Conor McManus, 22 Chris Mattina, 23 Connor Buckley