RUNY rolls over Warriors in Utah

Rugby United New York left no doubt as to who was the superior side as they rolled over the Utah Warriors by a final score of 47-21 at the snow-covered Zions Bank Stadium on Friday evening. The Warriors would score three tries but conceded seven and from the opening whistle were second best.

Adverse conditions greeted the two sides once again in Utah but they were not as severe as the week before. It was the Warriors who were most affected, unable to string together any phases on attack and making numerous unforced errors.

The first try came with ominous ease. Mark O’Keeffe broke through some soft tackles and one quick recycle later Cathal Marsh put Connor Wallace-Sims clear with an inside pass. O’Keeffe grabbed the second himself, a 75 meter intercept of an Ian Luciano telegram.

Cathal Marsh was forced off with injury but the New York train did not stop. Try number three came via James Denise as the flanker piled over from close range. By the 33rd minute the bonus point was signed, sealed, and delivered as simple hands put Wallace-Sims in for a double in the left corner.

Utah finally offered a response just moments before halftime. Jeremy Misailegalu shoved off four on a scything run up the middle and put Angus MacLellan in but for a desperate tackle from Ross Deacon. The Warriors ignored the huge overlap on the right side but John Cullen made amends, his pick-and-go putting him over the line.

Little changed in the second half, though it took New York longer than expected to break through again. In fact it was the scrum that did the job. The Warriors pack crumbled and the referee had no option but to award a penalty try. Another collapse landed Franco van den Berg in the bin and Trevor Cassidy piled over to add misery.

A scintillating 80-meter solo effort from Josh Anderson gave the freezing attendees something to cheer about late in the game. O’Keeffe was given a red-carpet run-in before the death for his second, and the game would end after Cullen took his frustrations out by barging over for his double in stoppage time.

New York take their record to an impressive four wins from five despite all being played on the road. They will celebrate their historic home opener against the Toronto Arrows on Friday. Utah have the week off to recuperate ahead of their rare Thursday-night road game against the Houston SaberCats on March 21.

 

SCORING

UTAH 21
Tries – J. Cullen 2 (39’, 80’), J. Anderson (68’)
Cons – T. O’Malley 3/3 (40’, 69’, 80’)
Yellow cards – F. van den Berg (62’)

NEW YORK 47
Tries – C. Wallace-Sims 2 (7’, 33’), M. O’Keeffe 2 (10’, 78’), J. Denise (26’), Penaltry try (59’), T. Cassidy (63’)
Cons – C. Mattina 5/6 (8’, 11’, 27’, 64’, 79’)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 73’), 2 Logan Daniels (16 Jeremy Leber 75’), 3 Angus MacLellan (20 Alex Tucci 60’), 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams (18 Jackson Kaka 55’), 7 Ara Elkington (17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 71’-73’) (19 Kenny Scott 73’), 8 John Cullen, 9 Ian Luciano (23 Joseph Nicholls HT), 10 James Semple, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo (22 Josh Anderson 61’), 12 Tim O’Malley (capt.), 13 Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Josh Whippy (21 Nolan Tuamoheloa 61’)

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Anthony Parry 61’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Mike Brown 64’), 3 Chris Sullivan (18 Paddy Ryan HT {1 James Rochford 75’}), 4 Trevor Cassidy (19 Matt Wirken 64’), 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Matt Hughston, 7 James Denise (20 Alex MacDonald 31’-34’, 54’), 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Mike Petri (capt.) (21 Marcus Walsh 58’), 10 Cathal Marsh (22 Mike St. Claire 11’), 11 Connor Wallace-Sims (23 Gavan D’Amore-Morrison 69’), 12 Mark O’Keeffe, 13 Chris Mattina, 14 Derek Lipscomb, 15 Ben Foden

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistants: Ben Crouse (SARU) & Kahlil Harrison (USAR)

 

Attendance: 1,145