Anthem RC Falls To RFCLA, 17-45

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 10, 2025) – A late push from Anthem RC wasn’t enough as RFC Los Angeles knocked off the visitors 17-45.

RFCLA started the scoring in the third minute. A nifty kick through from the hosts rolled into the try zone and Tim Anstee got there first to touch it down to make it 5-0.

Anthem had plenty of possession in the first half, but RFCLA’s defense provided physicality, not enabling much forward movement for the Queen City side.

RFCLA took advantage of an Anthem penalty in the 12th minute and Justus Tavai scored the try. The kick was good and RFCLA took a 12-0 lead.

Anthem made their best push of their first half. After a long, grueling physical spell deep in RFC territory, Anthem finally got the score. Connor Mooneyham made a man miss and tapped it down to get Anthem on the board.

RFCLA’s Vaughn Isaacs found a seam and burst through Anthem’s lines in the 33rd minute. The ensuing tosses resulted in Billy Meakes scoring between the posts for his sixth try of the season and making it a 19-5 RFCLA lead.

That score would stand until the halftime stoppage.

In the 47th minute, RFCLA looked to be on their way to scoring their fourth try of the match, but Anthem’s Dylan Fortune made an excellent tackle on Meakes, leading to a RFCLA knock-on.

Ben Strang scored the first try of the second half between the posts to make the lead 26-5.

Soon after, RFCLA’s Ben Houston was issued a red card for foul play and Anthem played up a man for virtually the remainder of the match.

In the 66th minute, Anthem started their second half charge. Ishma-eel Safodien broke through with some phenomenal footwork and got the try to cut the deficit.

Three minutes later, Safodien thought he scored his second highlight reel try in minutes, but it was brought back on a knock-on.

Anthem continued their charge in the 71st minute. Toby Fricker converted on a beautiful pass from Anthem newcomer Corbin Smith. Loubser drills the kick and it’s suddenly was just a 17-26 game.

RFCLA scored the dagger in the 75th minute. Franco Van Den Berg powered into the try zone and with the converted kick, the lead extended to 16.

RFCLA captain Jason Damm added two tries in the final couple of minutes and the home side held off a late Anthem push to win it 45-17.