Grant Scores First MLR Try as Arrows Fall to West-Leading Legion

News Jun-12-2023

Grant Scores First MLR Try as Arrows Fall to West-Leading Legion

The Arrows started strongly to build a halftime lead in Sunday afternoon’s clash with the Legion, but ran out of steam in the second frame, falling 50-17 to the Western Conference leaders at York Lions Stadium.

Lucas Rumball and Will Grant scored first-half tallies for the hosts, with Shane O’Leary adding seven points via the tee.

Forced to regroup after losing starting tighthead prop Tyler Rowland to an injury barely a minute into the match, Toronto did well to repel a San Diego side that was eager to build on its 11-match winning streak.

The hosts’ defence held until just before the hydration break, when Legion hooker Shilo Klein finished off a driving maul to open the match scoring.

Despite being dealt another early exit — hooker Tyler Wong was unable to continue at the half-hour mark — momentum began to shift back in the Arrows’ favour in the closing stages of the half.

Rumball kicked off a 10-minute Toronto blitz by barging in from close range to score his second try of the season, with O’Leary adding the extras before pinging in a penalty goal.

Minutes later, the Arrows were at it again: the freshly-activated Mitch Richardson sliced through the line and saw his offload cleverly booted ahead by the support-running Peter Nelson. The streaking Grant was first to the ball as it bounced into the Legion’s in-goal area, with the scrum-half pouncing to score the first try of his MLR career. O’Leary’s conversion put Toronto ahead by 10 heading into the interval.

Exiting the sheds, San Diego dashed all hopes of an underdog home win by putting forward a dominant 40-minute performance, scoring seven tries while conceding none en route to clinching the Western Conference title.

The Arrows had one opportunity late in the frame to get on the second-half scoresheet, but Mason Flesch was ruled to have been held up over the line.

Toronto enters Week 18 — the final week of the 2023 regular season — with a home clash against NOLA slated for Saturday, June 17.

The Arrows hold a 2-5 all-time record against the Gold, but were victorious the last time the two sides played north of the border — a 53-26 win in 2022.

The Eastern Conference tilt at York Lions Stadium will begin at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase via AXS, with single game seats starting as low as $20.

Toronto Arrows Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Dawson Fatoric, Mason Flesch – 10
Carry Metres: Mitch Richardson – 125
Defenders Beaten: Mitch Richardson – 4
Tackles Made: Dawson Fatoric, Mason Flesch – 13
Offloads: Tautalatasi Tasi – 4
Attacking Breakdown Arrivals: Connor Grindal – 22
Defending Breakdown Arrivals: Owain Ruttan – 7

San Diego Legion Stat Leaders:

Ball Carries: Tiaan Loots – 11
Carry Metres: Tiaan Loots – 131
Defenders Beaten: Tiaan Loots – 6
Tackles Made: Dan Pryor – 15
Offloads: Marcel Brache – 4
Attacking Breakdown Arrivals: Shilo Klein – 17
Defending Breakdown Arrivals: Christian Poidevin – 6

Toronto Arrows Score Report:

Tries: Lucas Rumball (32’), Will Grant (40’+2’)
Conversions: Shane O’Leary 2 (33’, 40’+3’)
Penalty Goals: Shane O’Leary (38’)
* = seven-point try

San Diego Legion Score Report:

Tries: Shilo Klein (17’), Nate Augspurger (41’), Tomas Aoake 2 (50’, 73’), Tupou Afungia (54’), Richard Judd (64’), Tiann Loots (69’), Luke Burton (76’)
Conversions: Will Hooley 2 (18’, 51’), Luke Burton 3 (65’, 70’, 74’)