Last-gasp Legion beat RUNY to earn home final

Recap

The Major League Rugby Championship Final is returning to San Diego. A superb sideline conversion from Joe Pietersen with just seconds remaining on the clock gave the Legion a 24-22 win over Rugby United New York in a thrilling Semi Final at a packed Torero Stadium on Sunday afternoon. San Diego now await the winner of the late game between Seattle and Toronto for a shot at the MLR Shield.

Tensions were high in the opening minutes with off the ball scuffles drawing the ire of the referee. After San Diego’s first foray was foiled by a knock-on from Tai Enosa, New York came back at the other end and from the lineout they bullied their way over the line. It was Paddy Ryan from close range getting the finish, driving through the final tackle of his Legionary doppelganger for the score. The conversion from Cathal Marsh took maximum points for the try.

It took patience but eventually San Diego broke through with a score of their own. They chose to attack the midfield after Joshua Furno went off the top from the lineout. Nate Augspurger nearly spun through, and then it was Faka’osi Pifeleti with Louis Stanfill on his back who piled in under the sticks. Joe Pietersen took the easy extras to draw the scores level.

A Pietersen penalty nudged the Legion ahead just before the break but it didn’t hold to halftime. San Diego lost their discipline at the breakdown and conceded another attacking throw-in to New York. Their bread-and-butter worked a charm once more, with Dylan Fawsitt on the end to pick up another try. Marsh couldn’t connect with the kick and RUNY took a narrow 12-10 lead into the sheds.

Within moments of the second half restart the lead would change hands again. San Diego won a turnover and their Ryan put JP du Plessis through a gap. After a few phases they were knocking on the door and Furno took it the last meter for a seven-pointer.

Marsh slotted a penalty of his own to pull New York within two but sliced a second effort. Pietersen smashed the ball downfield from the 22 drop out to where Ben Foden was waiting. He fired back with a huge up-and-under that Augspurger lost in the sun. The ball bounced up for Foden instead and his inside pass found James Denise in support for a try. Marsh kicked over the extra two and RUNY had a 22-17 lead heading into the final quarter.

San Diego found little success against a resolute New York defense and time was running out, but a tactical error saw the visitors cough up possession with just five minutes to play. Will Holder and Ryan Matyas combined to make territory and then it was the RUNY defense who conceded a breakdown penalty. The Legion went wide from the lineout then pulled it all the way back where du Plessis was waiting to dive into the corner, setting the stage for Pietersen’s heroics.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 24
Tries – F. Pifeleti (29’), J. Furno (41’), J. du Plessis (78’)
Cons – J. Pietersen 3/3 (30’, 42’, 79’)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (37’)

NEW YORK 22
Tries – P. Ryan (15’), D. Fawsitt (40’), J. Denise (59’)
Cons – C. Marsh 2/3 (16’, 60’)
Pens – C. Marsh 1/2 (45’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia HT), 2 Kapeli Pifeleti (16 Dean Muir 60’), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Dino Waldren 59’), 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua (20 Pat Blair 73′), 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.), 11 Nick Boyer, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Conor Kearns (22 Save Totovosau 67’), 15 Tai Enosa (23 Will Holder 67’)

Not used: 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 21 Kyle Rogers

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Chance Wenglewski 60’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Sullivan 60’), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Alex MacDonald HT), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 John Quill (20 James Denise HT), 7 Matt Hughston, 8 Ross Deacon (16 Callum Mackintosh HT), 9 Mike Petri (capt.), 10 Cathal Marsh (22 Harry Bennett 60’), 11 Connor Wallace-Sims, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Chris Mattina, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Ben Foden (23 Luke Hume 60’ {21 Marcus Walsh 73’})