Day: April 27, 2024

2024 – RD 9: Houston SaberCats v San Diego Legion

The San Diego Legion travel to Texas to face Houston at SaberCats Stadium in a western conference clash that could well be a prequel to a playoff match-up.

The Houston SaberCats were the only team to defeat the Legion during their outstanding 15-1 season in 2023, and it seeems that they still have San Diego’s number. Ronan Murphy opened the scoring roughly 15 minutes in and the ‘Cats never looked back. They led 14-0 at the half, before a red card to Tiaan Erasmus put them down a man very early in the second half, giving the Legion a golden opportunity to take control of the game. The Legion however, failed to move the scoreboard at all during the 20 minute man advantage, and almost immediately after returning to full strength Ronan Murphy scored his 2nd of the game to extend the ‘Cats lead.

About 8 minutes later, the ‘Cats were awarded a penalty try to secure the try BP and pile more woes on the Legion before Seth Smith, the youngest player in MLR history, trundled over behind a rolling maul to score Houston’s 5th of the game and become the youngest try scorer in MLR history! This was the final score of the game, with the SaberCats securing a comfortable 33-0 victory over the San Diego Legion, who suffer their first ever shutout defeat.

2024 – RD 9: Anthem RC v NOLA Gold

Anthem RC host the NOLA Gold in an Eastern Conference clash in High Point, NC.

The hosts took the lead early through a David Still try, but unfortnately for them, this seemed to wake the Gold up. NOLA scored 6 tries and 40 unanswered points to rout Anthem and get themselves back in the win column with a bonus point victory after a few bad weeks.

2024 – RD 9: Miami Sharks v Dallas Jackals

The Dallas Jackals travel to Florida to face the Miami Sharks at AutoNation Sports Field in a cross conference clash with a heavy Latin American influence.

The Jackals completed dominated the first half, running out to a 0-21 lead in half an hour and leaving the Sharks reeling through tries from Jero Gomez Vara, Makeen Alikhan, and Connor Winchester. They looked to continue this dominance in the 2nd half, with Jason Tidwell scoring early to secure the try BP for Dallas.

Chicago Hounds loanee Michael Hand scored an opportunistic try a few minutes later to get the Sharks on the board, but it was too little too late. The Jackals scored a 5th try minutes later to take the score to 7-33 and all but seal the result. The two sides exchanged tries around the 70 minute mark before Marcos Young scored the final points of the game to make the score a little more respectable for the hosts.

The Dallas Jackals continue their best MLR season to date with a BP victory to stay in a playoff spot, while the Sharks fail to secure any points, but stay within touching distance of the playoffs in the East.