NEWS

News Apr-1-2019

Week 10 Awards: Ferocious Sheppard fires Arrows’ record-setting performance as Legion dispatch reigning champs

MLR announces Player, Team and First XV of Week 10

Salt Lake City, UT; March 25, 2019: A tireless defensive effort from Toronto Arrows lock Mike Sheppard helped lay the foundation for his side’s 33-point dismantling of the Utah Warriors, earning the Canadian international the Week 10 Player of the Week Award. The San Diego Legion took Week 10 Team of the Week, overcoming reigning champions Seattle Seawolves 28-22 at a hostile Starfire Stadium.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Sheppard was dominant in the contact area and across the defensive line, killing one Warriors drive after another. Sheppard led the Arrows with 21 tackles and forced multiple turnovers, including the one that led directly to Avery Oitomen’s try on 52 minutes. Sheppard also contributed heavily on offense, adding eight carries for 60 meters and an eighth-minute try driven over from close range. Sheppard was one of nine different players to score a try in the Arrows’ 64-point effort.

The San Diego Legion survived away from home and a player short for over half the match after Keni Nasoqeqe was shown a red card in the 39th minute. San Diego opened the game with 17 unanswered points, including two converted tries from the forwards and a Joe Pietersen penalty goal. Opening the second half leading 20-5 but a man down, the Legion held off a furious Seawolves fightback, with the Californians’ dominant kicking game and opportunistic defense forcing timely Seattle miscues. Pietersen finished the match with a game-high 13 points and repeatedly pinned the home side back, his nine kicks in play gaining 372 meters. The win places San Diego fifth in the league standings with 26 points, one shy of Seattle.

MLR’s First XV of Week 10:

Loosehead Prop (No. 1), Rob Brouwer, Toronto Arrows

Hooker (No. 2), Eric Howard, New Orleans Gold

Tighthead Prop (No. 3), Paddy Ryan, San Diego Legion

Lock (No. 4), Mike Sheppard, Toronto Arrows

Lock (No. 5), Brad Tucker, Seattle Seawolves

Blindside Flanker (No. 6), Lucas Rumball, Toronto Arrows

Openside Flanker (No. 7), Psalm Wooching, San Diego Legion

No. 8, Hanco Germishuys, Glendale Raptors

Scrum-half (No. 9), Nate Augspurger, San Diego Legion

Fly-half (No. 10), Will Magie, Glendale Raptors

Wing (No. 11), Sione Fangaiuiha, Austin Elite

Inside Center (No. 12), JP Du Plessis, San Diego Legion

Outside Center (No. 13), Chris Mattina, Rugby United New York

Wing (No. 14), Tonata Lauti, Utah Warriors

Fullback (No. 15), Ben Foden, Rugby United New York

About MLR

MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.

The teams competing in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. Agreements are already in place to add at least a further three teams from major North American markets for Season 3.