A ball slips through the hands of two Seattle players and a San Diegan during Legion's season opening win against defending league champs Seattle.
A ball eludes Seattle’s Vili Toluta’u and San Diego’s Save Totovosau while Seawolves captain Riekert Hattingh watches at right during Legion’s season opening win against defending league champs Seattle. Photos by Chris Stone

“Make no mistake,” said the announcer at Sunday’s game at Torero Stadium. “These teams don’t like each other.”

Don’t expect that chill to thaw.

Kicking off their third season on an overcast day in the 50s (but no rain), the San Diego Legion held off a late charge by two-time Major League Rugby champion Seattle to vault to the top of the standings.

The 33-24 win gave the Legion 4 points and a bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more.

“They were fantastic to get off to a winning start there and get the bonus points, so you get 5 points,” said Legion head coach Rob Hoadley. “Obviously, there were lapses. The last 20 [minutes] was very poor.”

After taking a 33-10 lead midway through the second half, the Legion saw the Seawolves score 14 points before an announced crowd of 2,500.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a bit,” Hoadley said. “Overall we’ve got to be very happy with the result.”

He called his team’s biggest strength “obviously the lineout drive, [which] was very good. We scored two tries there. I thought we played the field position in territory really well in the first half.”

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Rugby legend Ma’a Nonu of New Zealand, new to San Diego, is surrounded by fans seeking selfies and autographs after the match. Photo by Chris Stone
Jasa Veremalua sprints to score a try for the Legion during the second half of the match. Photo by Chris Stone
Jasa Veremalua leaps to make a try for the Legion during the second half of the match. Photo by Chris Stone
A Legion player tries to block a kick by a Seawolves teammate. Photo by Chris Stone
A San Diego player pursues a Seattle Seawolves player protecting the ball. Photo by Chris Stone
Seattle Seawolves fans enthusiastically cheer their players after each score made for the visiting team. Photo by Chris Stone
Seattle Seawolves fans cheer their players at the end to the match. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Cohort — Legion fans who dress in medieval garb — readies himself for the second half of the rugby match. Photo by Chris Stone
A Cub Scout returns to his seat after halftime with a bag of popcorn almost half his height. Photo by Chris Stone
With temperatures in the low 50s, fans bundled up at Torero Stadium during the San Diego Legion-Seattle Seawolves match. Photo by Chris Stone
One of the youngest San Diego Legion fans is ready to cheer on his team in the second half. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego’s Save Totovosau sprints down the pitch to score a try early in the second half as the San Diego Legion played the Seattle Seawolves. Photo by Chris Stone
A Seattle player reacts with disappointment as San Diego Legion players celebrate a second-half try. Photo by Chris Stone
Legion player Luke Burton scores a conversion during a game against the Seattle Seawolves at Torero Stadium at USD. Photo by Chris Stone
A fan looks over a San Diego Legion program during halftime at the Major League Rugby match. Photo by Chris Stone
Legion Player Luke Burton (lower left) gets ready to catch a pass as others rush him. Photo by Chris Stone
Opposing team members reach for the ball in a lineout during the San Diego Legion’s opening game for the 2020 season. Photo by Chris Stone
Dean Muir (center) celebrates scoring a try in the first half of the Legion rugby game. Photo by Chris Stone
With temperatures in the low 50s, fans bundled up at Torero Stadium during the San Diego Legion-Seattle Seawolves match. Photo by Chris Stone
Seattle Seawolves captain Riekert Hattingh scores a try in the first half of the match. Photo by Chris Stone
Opposing team members reach for the ball in a lineout during the San Diego Legion’s opening game for the 2020 season. Photo by Chris Stone
Jasa Veremalua (center) celebrates a try scored by Dean Muir in the first half of the rugby match at USD. Photo by Chris Stone
Legion player Oti Pifeleti attempts to make a try during the first half of the match. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego’s JP du Plessis (center) scores a try in the first half of the 2020 season opener. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Cohort leads the San Diego Legion team onto the field of Torero Stadium at USD. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego Legion players listen to the national anthem at the start of the game. Photo by Chris Stone
A San Diego Legion player pushes out ball during a ruck on the pitch at Torero Stadium. Photo by Chris Stone
A San Diego Legion player gets a teammate’s knee to the head after being tackled. Photo by Chris Stone
Opposing team members reach for the ball in a lineout during the San Diego Legion’s 2020 season opener. Photo by Chris Stone
Opposing team members reach for the ball in a lineout during the San Diego Legion’s 2020 season opener. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego’s Luke Burton kicks to advance the ball. Photo by Chris Stone
Jasa Veremalua leaps for a Legion try during the second half of the match. Photo by Chris Stone
Dean Muir (center) celebrates scoring a try in the first half of the Legion rugby game. Photo by Chris Stone

Two San Diego tries were scored by Dean Muir in the first half, with JP du Plessis adding a first-half try and a 19-10 lead at halftime.

Save Totovosau scored a San Diego’s try in the 42nd minute, followed 12 minutes later by one by Jasa Veremalua. But the Seawolves’ Vili Toluta’u and George Barton added tries in the 59th and 68th minute, with several dozen enthusiastic fans from Seattle cheering loudly.

“When we stuck to our basics, we went very well,” Hoadley said. “And when we conceded penalties, we hurt ourselves. So I think everything’s in our control.”

In turning back their Western Conference rival, San Diego avenged its loss last June, when the Legion was stunned 26-23 late in the title game at the University of San Diego stadium.

New Legion player Ma’a Nonu, the 37-year-old New Zealand legend, didn’t add points in his first MLR outing — but scored big with fans, who surrounded him after the game for selfies and autographs.

“We couldn’t do better than get 5 points,” Hoadley said Sunday. “Yeah, it’s a perfect start from that respect. But performance-wise, there’s a lot we can do to improve going into next week.”

Next Sunday’s challenge is Colorado at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. (The Raptors beat Houston 21-12 in their opener.)

The next home game is Feb. 23 against the New England Free Jacks, an expansion team that lost its opener 34-14 to New York. (The other new teams are Old Glory DC in Washington and Rugby ATL in Atlanta, bringing the league to a dozen teams.)

Unlike other pro sports — such as the ill-fated Alliance of American Football with the San Diego Fleet — rugby is keeping its head above water.

“Professional rugby is here to stay in North America,” league Commissioner Dean Howes said last year in announcing expansion to a 96-match regular season.

“MLR is the first time the North American sports model has been applied to the global game of rugby,” he said. “That model is now laying the foundations for the long-term success of this league and the sport.”