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The San Diego Legion defeated the Chicago Hounds 36-14 at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. In doing so they moved into sole possession of Major League Rugby’s consecutive win record, with 11 in a row surpassing New England’s mark of 10 set last season.
It was the home side who scored first. Tupou Afungia tore up the middle for San Diego but his connecting pass to Ben Grant didn’t go to hand and Chris Mattina belted the ball downfield. The Legion couldn’t escape their end and eventually a lineout drive was conceded with Hugh Roach on the back to get the credit for the try. Mattina slotted the extras from wide out and the Hounds were up by seven.
A heavy collision between Luke Carty and Ma’a Nonu saw the San Diego center taking the worst of it, with Ryan Matyas coming in on the wing and Tomas Aoake shifting to the midfield. Christian Poidevin won a turnover at the breakdown that resulted in an attacking throw-in. Just as Chicago did earlier, the Legion went to the maul and Sama Malolo went over for the try. Will Hooley matched Mattina’s effort with the conversion from wide out to even the scores.
Nonu passed his HIA and returned to the pitch, but just a couple minutes later it was Hooley off to get checked with Josh Henderson coming in at flyhalf. Tempers flared at a scrum collapse and then Maclean Jones flattened Blair Cowan off the ball, earning a 10-minute trip to the sidelines. Chicago held on for several phases until Henderson fired a backhanded offload to Aoake for a try. The conversion from Henderson made it 14-7 to the visitors at halftime.
Aoake had himself a double just two minutes into the second half. Nate Augspurger came off his wing on a strike move from a scrum, leaving the Hounds defense caught out. Mikey Te’o squared up the last defender and Augspurger’s miss-out found Aoake wide open on the right side for the finish. Henderson couldn’t add the extras but it was now a two-score game.
The bonus point was secured on a counter-attack. Henderson stepped past the first two challengers and then Tevita Tameilau floated a wide ball to Augspurger. It was a simple two-on-one to free Poidevin at the 10-meter line. He somehow shook off the tackle of Matai Leuta and turned Michael Baska inside-out for a highlight-reel finish.
An attacking sequence from a scrum resulted in a fifth try for San Diego. After attacking wide right, they pulled it all the way back left where Poidevin was again waiting to break down the sideline. This time the flanker raced 25 meters before offloading to a supporting Richard Judd who cruised in for five points. Henderson pushed his kick wide right but the result was now well beyond doubt.
LaRome White would grab a consolation try for the Hounds, punching over from close range after the forwards and done some heavy lifting. The final say would go to the visitors. With time expired San Diego won a scrum against the head and soon after Shilo Klein was in for their sixth try of the afternoon.
Chicago will play their final two games of the season on the road, starting with Utah next Saturday. San Diego can stretch their streak to 12 games against the Arrows in Toronto on Sunday.
SCORING
CHICAGO 14
Tries (2) – H. Roach (7′), La. White (76′)
Cons (2) – C. Mattina 1/1 (8′), L. Carty 1/1 (77′)
YC (1) – M. Jones (36′)
SAN DIEGO 36
Tries (6) – S. Malolo (21′), T. Aoake 2 (39′, 42′), C. Poidevin (53′), R. Judd (72′), S. Klein (80’+1′)
Cons (3) – W. Hooley 1/1 (22′), J. Henderson 2/5 (40′, 80’+2′)
TEAMS
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton (17 LaRome White 50′), 2 Hugh Roach (16 Lindsey Stevens 73′), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Charlie Abel 50′), 4 John Cullen (19 Michael de Waal 61′), 5 Cam Dodson (21 Justice Nkombua 73′), 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White (20 Tinashe Muchena 60′), 9 Michael Baska (22 Sidney Shoop 54′), 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Chris Mattina (23 JP Eloff 60′)
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia 52′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Shilo Klein 62′), 3 Luke Green (18 Chris Baumann 61′), 4 Ben Grant, 5 Chris Turori (19 Jale Railala 50′), 6 Christian Poidevin, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.) (21 Michael Smith HT), 8 Tupou Afungia (20 Tevita Tameilau 52′), 9 Richard Judd, 10 Will Hooley (22 Josh Henderson 32′), 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Ma’a Nonu (23 Ryan Matyas 17′-28′, 73′), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Mikey Te’o
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Adam Falk (USA) & Niall Little (USA)
TMO: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Attendance: 3,432
