The San Diego Legion defeated Austin Elite Rugby 45-15 on Sunday, April 7 at Torero Stadium.
San Diego is in 5th place with a 6-1-2 record with 31 points, while Austin Elite Rugby record fell to 0-10.
The Legion travels to face Rugby United New York, who has the best record in Major League Rugby at 7-1, on April 14. Austin Elite Rugby also travels to face the Toronto Arrows on April 14.
Match Recap
Austin Elite Rugby struck first with a penalty kick by Andres Vilaseca for a 3-0 lead.
An Austin Elite scrum inside their 22-meters had them on their back foot after a drive by the Legion. Aidan McMullan felt the pressure and lost the ball forward. Nate Augspurger quickly moved the ball to Jordan Manihera, who offloaded to Save Totovosau for a try to take a 5-3 lead.
San Diego appeared to score another try by Totosovau but was ruled not try and the Legion had a 5-meter scrum. A turnover allowed Austin Elite to clear. San Diego attacked again, but a player was driven into touch 5-meters from in-goal. A Box kick went to Ryan Matyas who caught the ball at full speed and raced in untouched for a try in the left corner. Pietersen then slotted the kick to lead 12-3. The Legion then extended the lead to 17-3 after a Mickey Te’otry from a breakdown.
Austin Elite Rugby then answered back with LaRome White taking an inside ball from Marcelo Torrealba for a try and a Vilaseca conversion.
Nate Augspurger added the fourth try of the half with Pietersen converting to claim a bonus point and a 24-10 lead. Ryan Matyas appeared to add another try prior to the half, but after the referee consulted with the Assistant Ref, it was ruled no try.
Second Half
JP Duplessis scored a try early in the second half and Psalm Wooching added a sixth try for a 38-10 lead.
Austin Elite answered with a try by Maikeli Mudu Naromaitoga, who debuted with the team this match, to cut the lead to 38-15.
The Legion’s Nick Boyer scored the final try, and Dylan Audsley converted for a 45-15 victory.
Squads with Player Article Links & Match Preview
San Diego Legion: 1 Faka’osi Pifeleti 2 Deon Muir 3 Paddy Ryan (VC) 4 Lou Stanfill 5 Jasa Veremalua 6 Psalm Wooching 7 Devin Short 8 Jordan Manihera 9 Nate Augspurger 10 Joe Pietersen (C) 11 Ryan Matyas 12 JP du Plessis 13 Dylan Audsley 14 Save Totovosau 15 Mike Te’o16 Kapeli Pifeleti 17 Nathan Sylvia 18 Aaron Mitchell 19 Siaosi Mahoni 20 Drew Gaffney 21 Nick Boyer 22 Tai Enosa 23 Kyle Rogers + Head Coach Rob Hoadley
Austin Elite Rugby: 1 LaRome White 2 Tiaan Erasmus 3 Juan Echeverria 4 Ben Mitchell (C) 5 Josh Larsen (VC) 6 Kyle Breytenbach 7 Moe Abdelmonem 8 Travis Larsen 9 Mickaël Romera10 Rodrigo Sliva 11 Sione Fangaiuiha 12 Andres Vilaseca 13 Doug Fraser 14 Aidan McMullan 15 Soheyl Jaoudat 16 Dominique Bailey 17 Chris Schade 18 Brendan Rams 19 Maikeli Mudu Naromaitoga 20 Rikus Zwart 21 Mickaël Romera 22 Zinzan Elan-Puttick 23 Reece Czarnecki + Head Coach Alain Hyardet
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