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The NOLA Gold impressed this evening, claiming a bonus point win over the Utah Warriors. The 29-24 win was hard-fought. It added to the previous MLR results between the teams; the NOLA Gold now have a 4-0 winning record against the Utah Warriors.
NOLA Gold opened with a bang. Winger Julián Domínguez put on afterburners to fend off James Vaifale and had the speed to get to the line while splitting Hagen Schulte and Mike Te’o. Both Schulte and Te’o tried unsuccessfully to tackle the Argentine.
The score was an example of what NOLA can do. The well constructed try was followed by a second try late in the opening quarter. It came from a Warriors error. An overthrown lineout was latched on to by Pat O’Toole. The USA Select XV hooker made Utah pay as he gathered the ball, barged over and scored.
NOLA looked comfortable; Utah needed no further invitation as they responded by taking control. The Warriors cancelled out the NOLD Gold’s double with two of their own. First, Thomas Tu’avao made a break and provided a try assist. Scrum half Michael Baska was the benefactor for the Warriors. Second, the Warriors used the width of the field to run from deep in their own territory. Mike Te’o ran and stepped around Kyle Rogers before going under the posts.
NOLA ended the opening half scoring with a penalty. The 17-15 deficit was an indicator of what was in front of them to turn around the contest. The Gold did go ahead, albeit early in the second half. It came from O’Toole; the hooker scored his second by crossing in the 48th minute after a maul. Nola had kicked for corner from a penalty and turned it into seven points.
Replacement Damian Stevens had an immediate impact. The Namibian kicked over the line for Tim Maupin to chase. Vaifale tackled Maupin in the air from which referee Federico Anselmi ruled advantage, thus allowing play to continue. The Gold went on to score with Kyle Rogers touching down.
The Warriors were down but they were not out. They found their feet in time to set-up a nervous final minutes for the Gold. From a driving maul the Warriors scored a push-over try. Replacement hooker Veremalua Vugakoto was on the back of the maul to finish off the charge.
The try made it a 29-24 with five minutes remaining. Both sides had the ball and threatened to make breaks. Ultimately, the game concluded with a Warriors knock-on. It sealed a NOLA win; a result that moves the Gold above Austin to now be second in the overall MLR standings and top of the Eastern Conference.
The lead may be temporary; Rugby ATL can reclaim top spot in the east with a road win tomorrow against Seattle. The NOLA Gold have a bye next weekend. The Utah Warriors play host to the Austin Gilgronis on Saturday.
SCORING
NOLA 29
Tries – J. Dominguez (5′), P. O’Toole 2 (18′, 47′), K. Rogers (58′)
Cons – T. Guillimin 0/1, H. Yungert 2/2 (19′, 48′), D. Stevens 1/1 (59′)
Pens – H. Yungert 1/1 (40′), D. Stevens 0/1
UTAH 24
Tries – M. Baska (21′), M Te’o (34′), V. Vugakoto (73′)
Cons – C. Whiting 2/2 (22′, 74′), No kick (34′)
Pens – C. Whiting 1/1 (9′)
Yellow cards – J. Vaifale (58′)
TEAMS
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 56′), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Eric Howard 48′-61′), 3 Dino Waldren (18 James Irey 64′), 4 Kyle Baillie (capt.) (19 Ignacio Dotti 53′), 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (22 Lockie Kratz 72′), 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Cam Dolan (20 Malcolm May 59′), 9 Holden Yungert (21 Damian Stevens 53′), 10 Timothée Guillimin (23 Hanno Dirksen HT), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Kyle Rogers
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Alex Tucci 68′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Veremalua Vugakoto 61′), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Paul Mullen 59′), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Aston Fortuin, 6 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Mike Gieselman HT), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.) (23 Chad Gough 61′), 8 Lance Williams (19 Saia Uhila 61′), 9 Michael Baska (21 Fraser Hurst 66′), 10 Hagen Schulte (22 Tyler Fisher 56′), 11 James Vaifale, 12 Derek Ellingson, 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mike Te’o
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Rob Halcomb (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)
