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Utah have done it again. For a third game in succession the Warriors came from behind to earn a late victory. This time it was New York who slipped away, with the final score reading 29-28 to the visitors. The result is a major step towards a playoff spot for the Warriors.
New York were on the board first. Harry Bennett spotted space in his inside with Samu Tawake the link man to a flying Apenisa Cakaubalavu. The winger broke clean though and turned James Vaifale inside out before touching down for a seven-pointer.
Celebration turned to disaster as captain Dylan Fawsitt left the field with a rib injury. Within a minute of his departure Utah were over for their first try. Saia Uhila and Olive Kilifi paved the way for Sama Malolo to barge over.
The Warriors were left shorthanded as Paul Mullen sat in the bin for slapping an opposing player. Conor McManus immediately picked out a gap on the fringe, offloading to Chris Mattina, who in turn offloaded to Ben Foden. One more pass to Harry Bennett and it was try number two.
Kilifi showed impressive footwork for a big man as he spun out of two tackles to score, but there was a rapid response from New York. Zak Taulafo replaced an injured James Rochford and with his first carry of the ball drove through the challenge of Thomas Tu’avao to touch down under the posts.
As halftime loomed Utah would nearly draw the scores level. Appropriately it was Tu’avao redeeming himself, the flanker slipping through on the unguarded side of a maul. Cliven Loubser’s kick was off target but the Warriors were now within two.
Wilton Rebolo scored a bonus point try for New York early in the second half, taking a more conventional route at the back of a lineout drive. Harry Bennett’s conversion made it 28-19 and replacements were soon sprung into action.
A turning point came at the hour mark when Nate Brakeley was binned, and Mike Te’o took a quick tap when the penalty was awarded. One pass was all it took as Cliven Loubser scorched his way to the corner to secure the try bonus. Again his kick was askew, however, and Utah trailed by four.
Bennett missed a penalty attempt to leave the door open, and the Warriors turned up the heat. Aston Fortuin was held up over the line but there was no let-up. The Utah pack drove 20 meters up the pitch and Danny Christensen picked out a wide open Mika Kruse for the winning try.
Both teams are back in action next Saturday. New York travels to Marietta to play the Arrows in the first game of a double-header. Utah will play the SaberCats in Houston.
SCORING
NEW YORK 28
Tries – A. Cakaubalavu (6’), H. Bennett (23’), Z. Taulafo (35’), W. Rebolo (46’)
Cons – No kick 2 (6’, 35’), H. Bennett 2/2 (24’, 47’)
Pens – H. Bennett 0/1
Yellow cards – N. Brakeley (59’)
UTAH 29
Tries – S. Malolo (13’), O. Kilifi (31’), T. Tu’avao (39’), C. Loubser (60’), M. Kruse (77’)
Cons – C. Loubser 2/5 (14’, 32’)
Yellow cards – P. Mullen (22’)
TEAMS
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford (17 Zak Taulafo 34’), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.) (18 Wilton Rebolo 12’), 3 Samu Tawake (16 Rob Irimescu 75’), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Charlie Hewitt (19 Hanco Germishuys 50’), 6 Kyle Sumsion, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Conor McManus (20 Connor Buckley 70’), 10 Harry Bennett, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu (21 Luke Hume 56’), 12 Quinn Ngawati (22 Fa’asiu Fuatai 56’), 13 Will Leonard, 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Ben Foden
Not used: 23 Joel Miranda
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Franco van den Berg 47’), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Veremalua Vugakoto 61’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan HT), 4 Saia Uhila (19 Aston Fortuin 56’), 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Jurie van Vuuren 47’), 7 Mike Gieselman, 8 Lance Williams, 9 Fraser Hurst (21 Danny Christensen 65’), 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 James Vaifale (18 Angus MacLellan 29’-32’) (22 Mika Kruse 56’), 12 Derek Ellingson, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Josh Whippy (capt.), 15 Hagen Schulte (23 Mike Te’o 56’)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Lex Weiner (USA)
