Report

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 seems 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 SaberCats 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.

Details

Date Time League Season
April 27, 2024 8:00 pm Major League Rugby MLR 2024

Results

TeamTriesConversionsPenalty KickTBLBPoints
SaberCats54/50/01033
Legion00/00/0000

SaberCats

# Player Position T C P DG Asst. MG DB Tackles KS/KA Pts
1Ezekiel Lindenmuth 17Prop00000100900
2Tiaan Erasmus 16Hooker00000201000
3Rob Cobb 18Prop00000100900
4Justin Basson 20Lock00000160900
5Johan MomsenFlanker000003401300
6Marno RedelinghuysFlanker00000390900
7Keni Nasoqeqe 19Flanker000001101400
8Ronan MurphyNumber 82000034013010
9André Warner 21Scrum-half000002101200
10Davy CoetzerFly-half03000540133/46
11Line LatuWing10000410405
12Sam Hill 23Center00000430900
13Tautalatasi TasiCenter00000610700
14Christian DyerCenter00000330500
15Drew Wild 22Fullback00000500300
16Seth Smith 2Hooker10000130805
17LaRome White 1Prop00000170300
18Pono Davis 3Prop0000030200
19Emmanuel Albert 7Flanker00000180200
20Tomiwa Agbongbon 4Flanker0000000500
21Carlo de Nysschen 9Scrum-half0000020300
22Max Schumacher 15Fly-half0000000000
23Dominic Akina 12Flanker0000000100
Penalty Try-1100000007
 Total 5400051201633/433

Legion

# Player Position T C P DG Asst. MG DB Tackles KS/KA Pts
1Faka’osi Pifeleti 17Hooker0000080200
2Cyrille CamaFlanker000004301000
3Darcy Breen 18Prop0000000900
4Isaac RossLock000002001100
5Greg Peterson 20Lock000003501000
6Vili Helu 16Flanker0000060900
7Finn Kearns 21Flanker00000310800
8Jay Tuivaiti 19Number 8000002301000
9Connor Tupai 22Fly-half000003601000
10Josh HendersonFly-half00000690400
11James Vaifale 23Wing00000330300
12Ethan GraysonCenter000003001000
13Marcel BracheCenter00000340300
14Tomas AoakeWing00000720300
15Mikey Te’oFullback00000550200
16Lole Veimau 6Hooker0000010100
17Payton Telea-Ilalio 1Prop000004301100
18Luke Green 3Prop0000040100
19Charlie Hewitt 8Lock0000000400
20Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi 5Number 80000040100
21Tupou Ma’afu Afungia 7Number 800000230500
22Nick Boyer 9Scrum-half0000000300
23Harris Rutherford 11Fly-half00000240000
 Total 0000059401300/00

Officials

RefereeAssistant 1Assistant 2TMO
Luke RoganDerek SummersAllen AlongiMike Kelly

Venue

SaberCats Stadium
Aveva Stadium, 12131, Kirby Drive, Houston, Harris County, Texas, 77045, United States