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The New Orleans Gold wrapped up their 2018 Major League Rugby campaign on a high note as they just held on to take a 46-43 win over the Utah Warriors at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday. JP Eloff led the way for NOLA with a full house – one of each type of score – for a personal haul of 26 points.
Utah struck first with a defensive miscue opening the door for AJ Tu’ineau to fly through a gaping hole in the line. One pass later Don Pati was off on a 50 meter sprint to find paydirt. It almost a carbon copy soon after as once again Tu’ineau found space with Pati stepping back inside for another try from long range.
The Gold’s forward pack were making their presence felt at the set piece and mistakes suddenly began creeping into Utah’s game. Matt Hughston broke from the back of a 5 meter scrum and was just long enough to reach the line. It was the maul next, NOLA driving forward to set up a picture-perfect drop goal from Eloff.
Another mistake on the kickoff gifted possession to New Orleans and soon after Eloff sent over a penalty goal. A couple minutes later they were back in scoring range and a set move from the scrum saw Tim Maupin slice through on an inside ball to give the Gold the lead.
A score just before the break put the Warriors ahead. John Cullen’s offload to Iniki Fa’amausili put the midfielder into space and after a quick recycle the lightning feet of Tonata Lauti put the winger in under the posts.
The lead would hold, but only after NOLA had regained the advantage temporarily. Eloff fired back with his second penalty. A poor exit from the restart gave Pati space to counter and a couple phases later Linehan slipped through a gap for a seven-pointer on the stroke of halftime.
New Orleans got the first strike coming out of the change rooms. Their front row forwards got in on the act in the loose with Anthony Parry breaking through and connecting with Cam Falcon. Quick ball to Joeli Tikoisuva put the winger in almost unopposed.
The restart was disastrous for Utah. Yungert’s exit was gathered by Pati but the fullback was under pressure and a loose pass bounced to Eloff instead of Linehan, and the wrong No10 coasted in under the sticks to seal the bonus point.
It went from bad to worse for the Warriors when Maka Tameilau lost possession in a tackle and a long ball from Taylor Howden found Cameron Troxler in space for another NOLA try. An Eloff line break earned a penalty for the flyhalf to take full advantage and Utah were suddently three scores behind.
The Warriors needed some inspiration and they got it from Josh Anderson. The rangy winger was on the end of a clearance kick and he raced past the defense to score from halfway. Eloff interrupted the momentum briefly with his fourth penalty goal but Utah fired back immediately. Pati was again the catalyst, breaking through once and then getting involved a second time to put Fetu’u Vainikolo over for a vital score.
Vainikolo might have been on a double had he been able to hold on to another Pati pass following a line break. Curiously the star fullback was then replaced by Vernon Ale, later confirmed as a tactical substitution with no further explanation.
It took until nearly the end of the game for Utah to find the line again. Maka Tameilau made headway and the ball was swung to the other side of the pitch. Saia Uhila came close and Ray Forrester was there to drive over from short range. The Warriors managed to get through several phases with time expired but a Tikoisuva interception ended any hopes of completing the comeback.
Forrester’s try means that Utah pick up a second bonus point and effectively ends any hopes of NOLA making the Semi Finals. The Gold would need San Diego to pick up zero points in their next two matches and for Utah to loose by more than 73 points in their final match, both scenarios virtually unfathomable.
As the Gold reflect on what might have been had injuries not decided their fate, the Warriors remain in the fight. They’ll need a big win over the Houston SaberCats next week to make it, and possibly a little help pending the result of Sunday’s match in San Diego between the Legion and Austin Elite.
SCORING
UTAH 43
Tries – D. Pati 2 (5’, 8’), T. Lauti (36’), J. Linehan (40’), J. Anderson (57’), F. Vainikolo (65’), R. Forrester (78’)
Cons – J. Linehan 4/7 (9’, 37’, 40, 66’)
NEW ORLEANS 46
Tries – M. Hughston (18’), T. Maupin (30’), J. Tikoisuva (42’), J. Eloff (44’), C. Troxler (50’)
Cons – J. Eloff 3/5 (31’, 43’, 45’)
Pens – J. Eloff 4/4 (26’, 39’, 56’, 62’)
Drop goals – J. Eloff 1/1 (21’)
TEAMS
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci (17 Maka Tameilau 33’), 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu (16 Ray Forrester 56’), 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila (capt.), 6 John Cullen (18 Les Soloai 62’), 7 Ara Elkington (19 Lance Williams 51’), 8 David Tameilau (20 Wineera Elkington 74’), 9 Joseph Nicholls, 10 Jonny Linehan, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 12 AJ Tu’ineau (21 Josh Anderson 46’), 13 Iniki Fa’amausili (23 Ben Nicholls 75’), 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Don Pati (22 Vernon Ale 69’)
NEW ORLEANS GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens (17 Anthony Parry 19’), 2 Cam Falcon (16 Amro Gouda 68’), 3 Ben Tarr, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Matt Wirken (20 John Sullivan HT), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Brennan Falcon, 8 Matt Hughston, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 JP Eloff, 11 Joeli Tikoisuva, 12 Taylor Howden, 13 Bobby Johns (23 Cameron Troxler HT), 14 Tim Maupin (22 Peceli Rinakama 69’), 15 Michael Baska (19 Myles McQuone 79’)
Not used: 18 Alec Janotka, 21 Vita Makasini
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (RC) & Kage Green (USAR)
