The San Diego Legion rolled to a 50-5 win over Old Glory D.C. Saturday night at Torero Stadium in the team’s best overall performance in several weeks.
Now, the Legion must see what the Seattle Seawolves do Sunday evening to learn its Major League Rugby playoff fate.
With the victory over Old Glory, the Legion (8-8, 48 points) moved ahead of Seattle (7-1-7, 44 points) into fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
Should Seattle lose to the Miami Sharks in a match which kicks off at 6 p.m., the Legion will lock up the No. 4 seed and a first-round match next weekend at the No. 1-seeded Utah Warriors.
Should Seattle win and grab four standings points against a Sharks team that is trying to lock in a home playoff match, the Legion’s fate will be determined by a formula including total match points, bonus points and/or tie-breakers with point differential being the key tie-breaking factor.
There is even a scenario in which the playoff slot could be decided on a coin toss.
“I’m not even sure I’m going to watch,” Legion coach John Manenti said of the crucial Seattle/Miami tilt. “It’s going to be a nerve-wracking 24 hours for sure. I feel like I’ve watched so many other matches the last few weeks that could have helped us and they came down to the last minute but didn’t go our way. Maybe we’re due.”
The Legion entered Saturday night on a three-match losing skid but controlled possession and pace from the early stages and were never threatened after jumping out to an early 14-0 lead.
Brad Wilkin scored four tries, Rhian Stowers scored two and Steffan Crimp added another for the Legion, who earned a bonus point for scoring more than four tries.
The 50 points scored is the second most the Legion scored all season.
“We knew we had to have a strong performance,” said Legion wing Ryan James, a Cathedral Catholic High School gard. “The boys had a great week of training. Coaches prepped us well and we were able to get the job done.”
The sequence of the night came in the 31st minute and ended with Stowers’ second try of the first half.
The Legion were backed up to the Old Glory try line but broke out with a string of wide pitches, a long kick forward and finally Stowers’ score to make the score 21-0 San Diego.
The entire highlight-reel-worthy play involved seven es, covered the length of the field and both sidelines and sent the Torero Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
That kind of offensive action along with the physicality displayed by the Legion Saturday night shows that it is a team that could be dangerous in the playoffs.
If things go right in Miami. If.
“It’s bittersweet getting a win like this and then having to wait to see what happens,” James said. “Enjoy the night. Celebrate this win. And then, hey: “Let’s go Miami.”
