Last-gasp try lifts Legion over SaberCats

A Tony Purpura try in stoppage time secured a remarkable 35-32 victory for the San Diego Legion over the Houston SaberCats at Torero Stadium on Friday. The two teams went shot-for-shot for more than 80 minutes in a thrilling match that saw the lead change hands an incredible seven times.

San Diego looked stunned in the opening minutes as the SaberCats took a 10-0 lead. Osea Kolinisau scraped over from close range with Sam Windsor adding a conversion and a subsequent penalty goal to give the Legion something to think about.

Houston’s scrum was impressive but their lineout struggled badly. San Diego disrupted an attacking throw and with the midfield defense caught out JP du Plessis roared through a gap and fed Anthony Salaber, the rangy No13 racing the rest of the way for an end-to-end score completely against the run of play.

Salaber was in a try-scoring mood and after bursting onto an offload he fended Zach Pangelinan aside to make it two in five minutes. Windsor stepped in to break up the commotion, first landing a second penalty and then finishing a wonderful team try to re-take the lead.

The Legion would have another say before the break. From a ruck just inside San Diego territory Nate Ausgpurger spotted a gap on the blindside and Ryan Matyas obliged, scything down the sideline and into open space. He wouldn’t make it all the way but Dylan Audsley was there to connect with Salaber and once again he was off to the races for a first half hat-trick.

Windsor got Houston back on the front foot with his third penalty goal just after the intermission but the lead was snatched back just as quickly. Pat Blair squeezed over at the foot of the post from a pick-and-drive with Audsley’s conversion making it a five-point game.

It would take three more kicks at goal for Windsor to flip the switch again, and then a snap drop goal – the first in Major League Rugby history – from Kolinisau took the score just out of kicking range.

With time now their enemy the Legion pressed the attack and forced to defend their line repeatedly the penalties inevitably came from the SaberCats. Pago Haini was binned for slowing the ball down and San Diego smelled blood. This time they kept it close and with time expired Purpura did just enough to stretch over the line with Ben Cima’s extras the icing on the cake.

Houston will have a week off to rest and regroup before heading to New Orleans on May 19. There is no time to revel for San Diego, they’ll head to Infinity Park for a date with the Glendale Raptors next Sunday.

SCORING

SAN DIEGO 35
Tries – A. Salaber 3 (16’, 21’, 34’), P. Blair (50’), T. Purpura (80’)
Cons – D. Audsley 4/4 (17’, 22’, 35’, 51’), B. Cima 1/1 (80’)

HOUSTON 32
Tries – O. Kolinisau (8’), S. Windsor (31’)
Cons – S. Windsor 2/2 (9’, 32’)
Pens – S. Windsor 5/6 (11’, 25’, 44’, 55’, 67’)
Drop goals – O. Kolinisau 1/1 (75’)
Yellow cards – P. Haini (80’)

TEAMS

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Sione Tu’ihalamaka (17 Tony Purpura 56’), 2 Pat Blair (16 Gil Covey 71’), 3 Dolph Botha (18 Nathan Sylvia 65’), 4 Siaosi Mahoni (20 Malon Al-Jiboori 56’), 5 Jay Harmon, 6 Chris Turori, 7 Devin Short (19 Derrick Broussard 51’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Tadhg Leader (22 Ben Cima 52’), 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Anthony Salaber, 14 Taku Ngwenya (21 Nick Boyer 60’), 15 Dylan Audsley

Not used: 23 Naima Fuala’au

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Petey Hepburn 78’), 2 Lindsey Stevens (16 Diego Maquieira 78’), 3 Adam Macklin (18 Jack Riley 60’), 4 Robert Meeson (19 Justin Allen 60’), 5 Charlie Hewitt (21 Pago Haini 65’), 6 Chris Coyle, 7 Cecil Garber (20 Kyle Sumsion 49’), 8 Matt Trouville (capt.), 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Alex Elkins, 12 Conor Mills, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan (23 Joey Iosefa 68’)

Not used: 22 Chris Slater

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Assistants: Paul-Henri Courbier (USAR) & John Neiss (USAR)