Stars come from behind to beat Beacons
NORFOLK, VA - Are the Stars for real? They certainly look like they will be contenders for a high playoff spot in the Eastern Division following their 27-17 victory over the visiting Boston Beacons (2-3). Down 17-12 after 51 minutes, Virginia (3-2) came from behind for the second straight week, although in less dramatic fashion than last week's win over San Diego. Leading the way in the Stars' comeback was 30-year-old left wing Diego Zito, who scored tries in the 62nd and 71st minutes to help seal the victory. Scrum half Nathan Sims also had two tries on the day.
Believe it or not, the score could have been higher for Virginia, had it not been for a horrid kicking day. The Stars' kicker missed four of five conversion attempts.
Code:
FINAL SCORE: Boston 17, Virginia 27
TOTAL TRIES: Boston 2, Virginia 5
CONVERSIONS: Boston 2/2, Virginia 1/5
PENALTIES: Boston 1/1, Virginia 0/0
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
9' - Boston - no try . 0-0 tie score
11' - Boston - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #3). 7-0 Boston
15' - Virginia - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #12). 7-7 tie score
27' - Virginia - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #9). 12-7 Virginia
33' - Virginia - no try . 12-7 Virginia
42' - Boston - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #10). 14-12 Boston
51' - Boston - PENALTY GOAL. 17-12 Boston
62' - Virginia - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #11). 17-17 tie score
70' - Virginia - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #9). 22-17 Virginia
71' - Virginia - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #11). 27-17 Virginia
77' - Boston - no try . 27-17 Virginia
Legends dominate woeful Dragons
CHICAGO - Four different players, including left wing
Rob Nielsen, scored tries for Chicago as the Legends (3-2) had no problems with the visiting Capital City Dragons, winning 26-15. The Chicago defense held the Dragons to just 3 points for a vast majority of the game, until Capital City (0-5) launched a comeback bid late in the second half, scoring two tries to bring it to within 11 points. They almost scored a third try in the 78th minute, but Nielsen ran down and tackled the opposing ball carrier just ten yards shy of the tryline, and in the ensuing ruck a Capital City player commmitted an infringement which resulted in Chicago winning the ball via a scrum.
Code:
FINAL SCORE: Capital City 15, Chicago 26
TOTAL TRIES: Capital City 2, Chicago 4
CONVERSIONS: Capital City 1/2, Chicago 3/4
PENALTIES: Capital City 1/2, Chicago 0/2
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
10' - Chicago - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #14). 7-0 Chicago
18' - Capital City - PENALTY GOAL . 7-3 Chicago
26' - Capital City - Penalty Goal Missed . 7-3 Chicago
36' - Chicago - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #11). 14-3 Chicago
39' - Chicago - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #13). 19-3 Chicago
51' - Chicago - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #8). 26-3 Chicago
57' - Chicago - Penalty Goal Missed . 26-3 Chicago
63' - Chicago - Penalty Goal Missed . 26-3 Chicago
64' - Capital City - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #11). 26-8 Chicago
73' - Capital City - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #14). 26-15 Chicago
78' - Capital City - no try . 26-15 Chicago
Knights finally lose as Stormers roll in second half
PALO ALTO, CA - Because of the New Jersey Knights' dominant start to the season, there were some who were talking about the possibility of an undefeated regular season. Save that talk for future seasons. New Jersey (4-1) lost their first game ever on Saturday in Palo Alto, losing to the Golden Gate Stormers 20-12 in what could be considered an upset.
A lackluster first half saw New Jersey take a 5-0 lead into the locker room. When they came back out, left wing
Larry McGillicuddy scored a try, and New Jersey was up 12-0. It looked like the Knights were about to roll, but it was the Stormers who put on a performance. Golden Gate (2-3) scored three tries within seven minutes. Three different Stormers scored, but a lot of credit for that flurry has to go to fly half
Sandy Kemp. His vision and passing during those three attacking drives more than made up for his terrible kicking on the day (1/3 conversions, 1/3 penalties). By the time the Knight defense started to account for him, it was too late. Meanwhile, other than the aforementioned McGillicuddy try, New Jersey's offense uncharacteristically went bye-bye for the second half. The end result: a big win for Golden Gate, who before the season were envisioned as one of the league's top teams.
"We needed a big win like that," Stormers head coach Kyler Eccleston said. "Hopefully that will propel us to some more wins."
Code:
FINAL SCORE: New Jersey 12, Golden Gate 20
TOTAL TRIES: New Jersey 2, Golden Gate 3
CONVERSIONS: New Jersey 1/2, Golden Gate 1/3
PENALTIES: New Jersey 0/0, Golden Gate 1/3
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
1' - Golden Gate - Penalty Goal Missed . 0-0 tie score
10' - Golden Gate - Penalty Goal Missed . 0-0 tie score
13' - New Jersey - no try . 0-0 tie score
24' - New Jersey - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #5). 5-0 New Jersey
32' - New Jersey - no try . 5-0 New Jersey
36' - New Jersey - no try . 5-0 New Jersey
41' - New Jersey - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #11). 12-0 New Jersey
50' - Golden Gate - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #1 ). 12-7 New Jersey
55' - Golden Gate - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #11). 12-12 tie score
57' - Golden Gate - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #14). 17-12 Golden Gate
67' - Golden Gate - PENALTY GOAL . 20-12 Golden Gate
74' - New Jersey - no try . 20-12 Golden Gate
79' - Golden Gate - no try . 20-12 Golden Gate
Mashers beat Sharks for their third straight win
LOS ANGELES - They don't play pretty offensive rugby, but the Edmonton Mashers (4-1) know how to get the job done. Scrum half Griffin Brander scored two tries as Edmonton won their third straight by beating the Los Angeles Sharks (3-2) 22-5 in front of a national TV audience in both the United States and Canada. Masher fly half
Jace Hunter added one of two penalties and two of three conversions.
Code:
FINAL SCORE: Edmonton 22, Los Angeles 5
TOTAL TRIES: Edmonton 3, Los Angeles 1
CONVERSIONS: Edmonton 2/3, Los Angeles 0/1
PENALTIES: Edmonton 1/2, Los Angeles 0/1
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
6' - Los Angeles - no try . 0-0 tie score
12' - Edmonton - no try . 0-0 tie score
17' - Los Angeles - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #12). 5-0 Los Angeles
19' - Edmonton - Penalty Goal Missed . 5-0 Los Angeles
31' - Edmonton - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #9). 7-5 Edmonton
35' - Edmonton - TRY – conversion made (Try scorer: #9). 14-5 Edmonton
43' - Los Angeles - no try . 14-5 Edmonton
51' - Los Angeles - no try . 14-5 Edmonton
55' - Los Angeles - Penalty Goal Missed . 14-5 Edmonton
65' - Edmonton - TRY – missed conversion (Try scorer: #12). 19-5 Edmonton
70' - Edmonton - PENALTY GOAL . 22-5 Edmonton
80' - Los Angeles - no try . 22-5 Edmonton