North American Rugby Database

Report

The NOLA Gold host the Miami Sharks at the Gold Mine for a Southern Showdown in the Eastern Conference during Round 8 of the 2024 MLR season!

The Gold come into this game on the back of 3 games with 0 table points, and desperate for a win to halt their skid. The 1-5 Sharks, despite being an expansion side, have had some close games go against them and will be looking for a big win on the road. The game went back and forth for much of the first half, with the lead changing hands a number of times before a Reinaldo Piussi try gave Miami the lead, and a Videla penalty extended that lead to 15-22 at the half.

The 2nd half started badly for the hosts, with OJ Noa sent to the bin early, before Miami’s Nick Grigg dotted down for his 2nd, and Marcos Young scored a 7pointer just two minutes later to take the Sharks to a 15-36 lead. The Gold would hit back through a Jonah Mau’u try in the 56 minute, before the Sharks went a man down as Alec McDonnell was sent to the bin. Taniela Filimone grabbed another try for NOLA to secure the try BP, before things descended into chaos. Nick Grigg was given a yellow to take the Sharks down to 13 men, before Jarred Adams was awarded a yellow to hamstring the Gold, and Nick Feakes was given a straight red in his NOLA Gold return for an off the ball incident. The Sharks emerged from the chaos as 27-42 victors, their first road victory in MLR.

The Gold continue to skid and may face further suspensions following Feakes’ incident. With a BP victory for the Sharks, this game definitely shook up the Eastern Conference!