Beast Mtawarira tasted success in his first outing in the American Major League as Old Glory DC shocked the Seattle Seawolves with a 28-22 victory in round two of the tournament.
– Mtawarira started as the Major League newcomers bounced back from their opening-round loss to hand a stunning defeat to the defending champions on Saturday. Also playing for Old Glory was former Leopards lock Dylan Pieterse, who came off the bench in the second half. The Seawolves were lead by No 8 Riekert Hattingh, who scored their only try of the match, while lock FP Pelser and USA-capped scrumhalf JP Smith were also in their starting lineup.
ALSO READ: Vermeulen helps Exeter Chiefs go top of Premiership
– The Utah Warriors grabbed their first win of the season as they scored 26 unanswered points to come from behind to beat the New England Free Jacks 39-33. No 8 Jurie van Vuuren and loosehead prop Franco van den Berg both started for the Warriors, who had centre Tyler Fisher as a second-half replacement.
– Rugby United New York claimed a 49-31 win in a try fest against the Austin Gilgronis in Las Vegas. Austin lock Rikus Zwart was the only South African in either starting lineups and he was replaced by Tiaan Erasmus in the 50th minute.
– The Toronto Arrows held on to beat the Houston SaberCats 27-22 despite being reduced to 13 men in the final five minutes of the match. Scrumhalf De Wet Roos captained the SaberCats and scored a brace, including a 77th-minute try to give his team hope of a comeback. The SaberCats also had lock Kyle Breytenbach, No 8 Adriaan Booysen and centre Tiaan Loots in their starting lineup. Loots was yellow-carded in the first half for a late tackle.
– Dean Muir and JP du Plessis both got on the scoresheet as the San Diego Legion continued their excellent start to the season with a comfortable 49-22 win against the Colorado Raptors on Sunday. Muir scored his third try in two weeks from the back of a rolling maul to help his side into a 31-8 lead. Du Plessis rounded off the scoring when he went over in the 70th minute, shortly before being sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle. Scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen and centre Robbie Petzer were both substitutes for the Raports, who are winless after the first two rounds. Also in action was former All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu, who scored his first try in the MLR, while Rene Ranger played for the Raptors.
ALSO READ: Versatile Kolbe dazzles at flyhalf
– Kurt Coleman was on form with the kicking tee as Rugby Atlanta fought back from a half-time deficit to beat NOLA Gold 22-10 in a wet-weather match in New Orleans. Coleman slotted four penalties for Atlanta as they claimed a vital away victory. Johan Momsen and Stefan Willemse formed the second row for Atlanta, while scrumhalf Duncan Van Schalkwyk and centre Ryan Nell also started. Fullback Carl Meyer played for New Orleans and kicked a penalty and conversion.
Photo: @OldGloryDC/Twitter