Short-handed Utah hold on to beat Austin

The Utah Warriors got their season off to a winning start as they claimed a 30-28 win over the Austin Gilgronis at Bold Stadium on Saturday. It was an exceptional effort from the visitors, who did just enough to hold on to the win despite playing 30 minutes with only 14 men on the pitch.

Hagen Schulte opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 5th minute, but it was Austin who grabbed the first try. Sama Malolo was sent to the bin for cynical play and within a minute Hugh Roach reached over a ruck to touch the ball down. Mack Mason had no trouble with the conversion.

Utah were still short-handed when Michael Baska caught the defense napping to sneak the ball over under the posts for an automatic seven points. When Malolo returned the Warriors turned up the heat and Lance Williams scored in the corner, somehow grounding the ball before he was forced into touch.

Williams went from hero to villain as he was shown yellow for collapsing a maul in scoring position. The defense held, however, and the Gilgronis failed to take advantage of the opportunity leaving the visitors ahead 15-7 at the intermission.

Malolo redeemed his earlier indiscretion with a powerful burst that took him through three defenders en route for the score. Within minutes Austin replied when Moe Abdelmonem peeled off a maul and won the race to the line.

Jurie van Vuuren wrestled over from close range to stretch Utah’s lead to 13 points, but he too would soon find himself in the naughty chair. It was another collapsed maul, and this time the referee’s patience had run out as he went under the posts to award a penalty try.

It set up an exciting finale as Paddy Ryan muscled in for a try with just three minutes to play. The AGs won a penalty with time expired and Mason opted for a shot at goal from a meter on his side of halfway. It had the legs but fell to the right of the posts and the Warriors celebrated their hard-earned victory.

Austin will look to rebound at home against the San Diego Legion next Sunday. Utah head back to Salt Lake City and await the arrival of the Toronto Arrows on Saturday.

 

SCORING

AUSTIN 28
Tries – H. Roach (20’), M. Abdelmonem (55’), Penalty try (69’), P. Ryan (77’)
Cons – M. Mason 3/3 (21’, 56’, 78’), No kick (69′)
Pens – M. Mason 0/1

UTAH 30
Tries – M. Baska (27’), L. Williams (32’), S. Malolo (52’), J. van Vuuren (65’)
Cons – No kick (27′), H. Schulte 1/3 (53’)
Pens – H. Schulte 2/2 (5’, 71’)
Yellow cards – S. Malolo (19’), L. Williams (38’), J. van Vuuren (69’)

 

TEAMS

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh (17 LaRome White 66’), 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Paddy Ryan 53’), 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Cam Dodson (19 Michael de Waal HT), 6 Moe Abdelmonem (16 Mason Koch 78’), 7 Maclean Jones (20 Dom Bailey 23’), 8 Dominic Akina (14 Cole Davis 79’), 9 Pele Cowley (21 Marcelo Torrealba 53’), 10 Will Magie, 11 Conner Mooneyham, 12 Mack Mason, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Cole Davis (23 Rodrick Waters 66’), 15 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (22 Kurt Morath 53’)

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Alex Tucci 61’), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Veremalua Vugakoto 61′), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Olive Kilifi 74’), 4 Aston Fortuin, 5 Matt Jensen (19 James Mocke 79’), 6 Lance Williams (20 Thomas Tu’avao 69’), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.) (21 Mike Gieselman 79’), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 Joseph Mano (16 Veremalua Vugakoto 23’-29’) (23 Logan Tago 69’), 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o

Not used: 22 Fraser Hurst

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Butch Neuenschwander (USA)