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The LA Giltinis were tested by Utah but came away with a 38-27 win over the Warriors on Saturday evening. It was a capacity sell-out for the first ever rugby match at SoFi Stadium, with all 4,880 tickets permitted under pandemic restrictions accounted for.
LA came flying out of the gates with Harrison Goddard picking a gap at a ruck to score the first try just two minutes into the game. Matt Giteau made the easy conversion and the Giltinis were away.
There was an instant response from Utah. Bursts by Lance Williams and Mike Te’o were followed up by Sama Malolo. The powerful hooker had plenty of work to do but he powered through three defenders to make the line. Hagen Schulte’s kick was off target to leave LA in the lead.
Schulte had an opportunity to nudge Utah ahead with a penalty but again his aim was off. He redeemed himself soon after with a kick from further out that finally founds its intended home. The Warriors were up 8-7 put it was a tender lead that wouldn’t hold long.
Giteau settled for three at the next LA incursion and then Goddard would get a second try. The ball went wide to Ryan James in space, and the winger chipped ahead over the defensive line. It was a kind bounce for Goddard that left Te’o no chance to prevent the scrumhalf from touching down under the posts for a seven-pointer.
John Ryberg looked to have scored just before halftime and the referee initially awarded the try only to see a clear knock-on in the grounding on the stadium screen. He corrected his mistake but it only delayed the inevitable as Angus Cottrell drove in from close range, Giteau’s kick making it 24-8 at the intermission.
Utah nearly scored early in the second half as Malolo was first held up by Bill Meakes, and then Thomas Tu’avao knocked on as he crossed the goal line. Instead it was Corey Thomas who touched down at the other end with a little help from his tight five makes JP Smith and Dave Dennis. Giteau tacked on two more before heading for an early shower.
The Warriors were down but not out. James Vaifale spun through Ryberg’s tackle attempt to score in the corner, and then Jurie van Vuuren showed remarkable awareness to reach out for the try as he was sent whirling in the air from a Langi Haupeakui challenge.
Cottrell grabbed a double just a couple minutes later though there was perhaps a hint of a knock-on as he grounded the ball. With time expired Utah’s efforts were rewarded with a bonus point score from Lance Williams, with a drop-kick conversion from Te’o bringing on the final whistle.
It’s straight to the ice baths for the Giltinis as they will face the Gilgronis in Austin on Wednesday night. Utah have a full week before their road game against the Gold in New Orleans on Saturday.
SCORING
LA 38
Tries – H. Goddard 2 (2’, 26’), A. Cottrell 2 (40’, 72’), C. Thomas (51’)
Cons – M. Giteau 3/3 (3’, 40’, 52’), No kick (26’), L. Burton 1/1 (73’)
Pens – M. Giteau 1/1 (17’)
UTAH 27
Tries – S. Malolo (6’), J. Vaifale (58’), J. van Vuuren (70’), L Williams (80’+2’)
Cons – H. Schulte 0/2, C. Whiting 1/1 (71’), M. Te’o 1/1 (80’+3’)
Pens – H. Schulte 1/2 (11’)
TEAMS
LA GILTINIS
1 Jean-Pierre Smith (18 Blake Rogers 58’), 2 Mahe Vailanu (16 Sean McNulty 62’), 3 Charlie Abel (17 Ma’ake Muti 74’), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.) (19 Nathan Den Hoedt 55’), 5 Corey Thomas, 6 Angus Cottrell, 7 Harry McNulty, 8 Pago Haini (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 52’), 9 Harrison Goddard (21 Cristian Rodriguez 75’), 10 Matt Giteau (22 Luke Carty 52’), 11 Ryan James, 12 Bill Meakes (23 DTH van der Merwe 58’), 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Luke Burton
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Olive Kilifi 52’), 2 Sama Malolo (23 Chad Gough 64’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan HT), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Aston Fortuin, 6 Thomas Tu’avao (19 Saia Uhila 52’), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.) (20 Mike Gieselman 75’), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Michael Baska (21 Fraser Hurst 77’), 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 James Vaifale (22 Derek Ellingson 66’), 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o
Not used: 16 Veremalua Vugakoto
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Andrew Stockton (USA)
Attendance: 4,880
