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Canadian side the Toronto Arrows traveled to Utah and conquered the Warriors, winning 64-31 today. The victory at Zions Bank Stadium was not only massive but was record setting with the Arrows setting a new benchmark for Major League Rugby.
The win was the fourth of the season for the Canadian side. It takes their season to a 4-4 record. The Utah Warriors are less fortunate. Having played six matches the Warriors have a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 5 losses.
Today’s fixture was well and truly dominated by the Toronto Arrows. They took little time to trouble the scorers. So swift and clinical were the Toronto Arrows that they had a 19-0 lead before the Utah Warriors could catch their breath.
The opening score went ton loose head prop Rob Brouwer. Not to be outshone his front-row partner Steve Ng would cross shortly thereafter. With Sam Malcom on target with both conversions the lead was 14 points, but not for long. It became 19-0 with winger Dan Moor going over in the right corner.
The one-way traffic would end with the Utah Warriors finding their feet. Lineout ball saw flanker Jackson Kaka crossing for the home side. Center, and captain, Tim O’Malley added the conversion.
converting. Tonata Lauti then appeared to ground the ball in the right corner, however on review, Andrew Ferguson was sent to the bin for a trip and a penalty try was awarded to cut the lead to 19-14. Fets Vainikolo then added a try in the left corner to level the match at 19 all.
A lack of discipline then saw the Toronto Arrows pay dearly. A penalty try would be awarded against scrum-half Andrew Ferguson though the Warriors would be halted there and then. With half time approaching Kolby Francis went over for the Arrows’ bonus point try.
The Toronto Arrows went into the interval with a healthy seven point lead. The second half would be even better for the visitors, though, as they went on to score more points than that of any other team in a previous MLR fixture.
Lucas Rumball, Marcelo Wainwright, and Avery Ottoman all crossed to take the Toronto Arrows out to a 47-19 lead. Tonata Lauti would respond for the Utah Warriors, and with it they claimed a bonus point.
Uruguayan fullback Gastón Mieres and Kainoa Lloyd added further tries for Toronto while the Utah Warriors would cross for one more, doing so via Nola Tuamoheloa.
Both teams will play again next weekend. The Utah Warriors will remain at home to face the Seattle Seawolves. The Toronto Arrows return to Canada to play host to NOLA Gold.
SCORING
UTAH 31
Tries – J. Kaka (19’), Penalty try (23’), F. Vainikolo (27’), T. Lauti (57’), N. Tuamoheloa (66’)
Cons – T. O’Malley 2/3 (20’, 58’), J. Reeves 0/1
TORONTO 64
Tries – R. Brouwer (5’), M. Sheppard (9’), D. Moor (15’), K. Francis (38’), L. Rumball (45’), M. Wainwright (49’), A. Oitomen (53’), G. Mieres (59’), K. Lloyd (78’)
Cons – S. Malcolm 8/9 (6’, 10’, 39’, 46’, 51’, 54’, 60’, 79’)
Pens – S. Malcolm 1/1 (77’)
Yellow cards – A. Ferguson (23’)
TEAMS
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 68’), 2 Jeremy Leber (16 Blake Burdette 72’), 3 Angus MacLellan (20 Alex Tucci 60’), 4 Saia Uhila (18 Ara Elkington 49’), 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Jackson Kaka (19 Arthur Bergo 68’), 7 Lance Williams, 8 John Cullen, 9 Sione Ika, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo (21 Nolan Tuamoheloa 60’), 12 Tim O’Malley (capt.) (22 Jeremy Misailegalu 61’), 13 Gannon Moore, 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Don Pati (23 Joseph Nicholls 60’)
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Tom Dolezel 60’), 2 Steven Ng (16 Jack McRogers 72’), 3 Morgan Mitchell (18 Cole Keith 51’), 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini (19 Tom van Horne 64’), 6 Lucas Rumball (co-capt.), 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Kolby Francis (20 Marcello Wainwright 46’), 9 Andrew Ferguson (21 Jamie Mackenzie 51’), 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Dan Moor (co-capt.) (23 Theo Sauder 51’), 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Spencer Jones, 14 Avery Oitomen, 15 Gastón Mieres (22 Kainoa Lloyd 60’)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USAR) & Cam Pettit (USAR)
Attendance: 2,245
