Week 10 Awards: Ferocious Sheppard Fires Arrows' Record-Setting Performance as Legion Dispatch Reigning Champs
April 1, 2019 - Major League Rugby (MLR) News Release
Mike Sheppard of the Toronto Arrows
(, Credit: Craig Boudreaux)
Salt Lake City, UT; April 1, 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, a record haul in MLR.
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
Images from this story
 Mike Sheppard of the Toronto Arrows (Craig Boudreaux) |
Major League Rugby Stories from April 1, 2019
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