San Diego Legion defeated the New England Free Jacks 30-21 on Sunday, February 23 at Torero Stadium.
The San Diego Legion top the Western Conference standings with a 3-0 record and have 15 points after bonus-point wins over the Seattle Seawolves, the Colorado Raptors and the Free Jacks.
The New England Free Jacks split two MLR Vegas Weekend matches, beating Rugby United New York and losing to the Utah Warriors. With the loss to San Diego, they fall to sixth place in the very competitive Eastern Conference.
San Diego Legion vs New England Free Jacks Match Recap
INJURY UPDATE | Simon Courcoul will start at prop for Tolu Fahamokioa who will miss today’s match due to late injury unavailability. Kyle Ciquera will join the team as an impact reserve
The New England Free Jacks began the match with three penalties. San Diego’s Luke Burton punished them for the latter as he slotted a penalty goal for an early 3-0 lead.
That lead was pushed to 10-o after a Burton cross kick pass to Save Totovosau for a try in the right corner. Burton then added the extras.
A Free Jacks knock-on was collected by Paul Mullen and sent to the wing with Tira Patterson scoring in the left corner. Burton was on target again to lead 17-0.
A defensive steal by New England had the Free jacks cutting the lead to 17-7 after a Poasa Waqanibau try and a Tim Guiilimin conversion.
Just prior to the break a Devereaux offload to Dylan Audsley added third try for a 20-7 lead.
Second Half
New England promptly cut the lead to 20-14 after a try by John Poland in the corner with Guillimin adding the extras. In the 65th minute, New England took the lead after the Zach Stryffeler try from a 5-meter lineout, with Guiilimin converting again.
The Legion answered back with a strong run by Psalm Wooching with Devereaux finishing with a bonus point try in the right corner and with Burton’s conversion, the Legion reclaimed the lead, 27-21.
With the game in doubt, a Free Jacks scrum infraction had Burton sealing the match with a penalty goal for a 30-21 win.
With the win, the Legion maintains first place in the Western Conference with a 3-0 record and 15 points. The Free Jacks had another good performance despite their second consecutive loss with their record dropping to 1-2.
Squads with Player Article Links & Match Preview
San Diego Legion: 1 Nathan Sylvia 2 Dean Muir 3 Paul Mullen 4 Siaosi Mahoni 5 Josh Furno 6 Jasa Veremalua 7 Psalm Wooching 8 Tevita Tameilau 9 Nate Augspurger (C) 10 Luke Burton 11 Tira Patterson 12 Ma’a Nonu 13 JP Du Plessis 14 Save Totovosau 15 Dylan Audsley 16 Peter Malcolm 17 Jamie Dever 18 Aaron Mitchell 19 Ben Mitchell 20 Devin Short 21 Ryan Matyas 22 Devereaux Ferris 23 Keni Nasoqeqe
New England Free Jacks: 1 Simon Courcoul 2 Sean McNulty 3 Donald Brighouse 4 Josh Larsen 5 Jackson Thiebes 6 Conor Kindregan 7 Zack Stryffeler 8 Naulia Dawai 9 John Poland10 Timothée Guillimin 11 Deion Mikesell 12 Sam Beard 13 Poasa Waqanibau 14 Danny Collins 15 Mitch Wilson 16 Steve Hinshaw 17 Kyle Ciquera 18 Quentin Newcomer 19 Brad Hemopo 20 Evan Geist 21Oliver Engelhart 22 Peceli Rinakama 23 Christian Adams
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