AG Falls To LA In Gritty Rivalry Match

In a hugely anticipated match, the AGs came up short against the top team in the league on a Wednesday night on just three days’ rest.

Both teams put on a stellar defensive display throughout the match, bending at times but never breaking. The lone try in the first half went to LA with a loose ball pick up and dot down. The ball squirted awkwardly out of the ruck which drew an eager AG defense and when it was quickly gathered by LA it left just a perfect hole for Lindsay Stevens to squeeze through.

The only points the AGs were able to collect in the first half was a penalty conversion from Mack Mason. 7-3 LA.

The home crowd certainly got behind the AGs; stomping their feet to fuel the AG maul and scrum. Will Magie did all he could from the fullback position pinning LA deep in their own territory several times, but he would be just the first of a handful of AG players to leave the match with various injuries.

A second-half try from John Ryberg gave LA a two-possession lead. Then in the 70th minute, Moe Abdelmonem came down with a knee injury and the AGs were out of substitutions. So for the final ten minutes of play, the AGs played down a man. One final LA penalty conversion sealed the win for the away side.

While the AGs came up short against a rival, there was much optimism to be taken from the match. The fans really got behind the team on a Wednesday night that looked at the start could be in trouble for rain and lightning. But as the rain staved off, the fans poured in and began coming up with their own chants and ways to get behind the squad.

The next AG match has massive playoff implications as the club goes on the road to face the Utah Warriors. The #2 and #3 teams in the Western Conference are just two points from each other in the standings and only the top two teams in the west can advance.

Come out to the AG Watch Party on Saturday, May 29th at the Kenney Fort Pub to support the AGs when they hit the road.

The next and final AG home match of the season is Saturday, June 12th when the Toronto Arrows come to Austin!