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They left it late but the Utah Warriors got what they wanted with a maximum five point haul from Saturday’s road trip to Houston. Jurie van Vuuren’s try on full-time made the final score 24-5 for the visitors as they take the lead in the Western Conference though LA are still to play on Sunday.
A try from Veremu Dikidikilati ended a stalemate to start the game. Utah’s defense left the short side of a ruck unguarded and the big winger accelerated around the corner and sped away for five. Sam Windsor’s conversion attempt drifted past the uprights.
The Warriors replied From an attacking scrum soon after. Mike Te’o stepped past the first wave of defense and shipped it to Lance Williams. Bailey Wilson was next to handle, the captain giving the try-scoring pass to Josh Whippy. Calvin Whiting couldn’t connect with the kick from the wide angle.
Jérémy Lenaerts received a yellow for a shoulder charge as the clock ticked over 40 minutes. With Lenaerts off the SaberCats scrum couldn’t hold out and a penalty try was awarded to the Warriors to make it 12-5 at halftime.
Utah found themselves down a man not long into the second half as Michael Baska was binned for cynically slapping the ball out of Nick Boyer’s hands. Houston could do nothing with the advantage, however, and tempers flared as Paul Mullen and Nicolás Solveyra squared off at the scrum.
It wasn’t until the 68th minute when another score finally came for the Warriors. Thomas Tu’avao’s offload to Michael Baska created space and after two hit-ups, Baska spun it wide to Mika Kruse. The soon-to-be Eagles tourist shimmied and slipped between three defenders to score an unconverted try.
Houston foiled a Utah advance in the dying minutes and it looked as though Utah would miss out on the bonus point. A penalty gave them one more chance, however, and through the lineout couldn’t get the job done van Vuuren had the strength to hit and roll over the line for the all-important fourth try.
Both teams will enjoy a bye week before returning on Saturday, July 10. Houston will make the long trip north to New York. Utah return to Salt Lake to face Eastern Conference leaders Rugby ATL.
SCORING
HOUSTON 5
Tries – V. Dikidikilati (16’)
Cons – S. Windsor 0/1
Yellow cards – J. Lenaerts (40’)
UTAH 24
Tries – J. Whippy (20’), Penalty try (40’), M. Kruse (68’), J. van Vuuren (80’)
Cons – C. Whiting 1/3 (80′), No kick (40’)
Yellow cards – M. Baska (51’)
TEAMS
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nicolás Solveyra (17 Patrick Donovan 69’), 2 Diego Fortuny (16 Mike Brown 78’), 3 Nik Hildebrand (18 CJ Burke 77’), 4 Apisai Tauyavuca (19 Bronson Teles 60’), 5 Jérémy Lenaerts, 6 Luke Beauchamp (capt.), 7 Diego Magno (20 Cecil Garber 65’), 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Nick Boyer (21 Zachary Short 24’-35’), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Max Tacket (22 Jake Hidalgo HT), 13 Joe Thomas, 14 Veramu Dikidikilati (21 Zachary Short 78’), 15 Zach Pangelinan (23 Zack Godfrey 65’)
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Alex Tucci 69’), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto (16 Sama Malolo 52’), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Paul Mullen 56’), 4 Aston Fortuin (19 Saia Uhila 61’), 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams (20 Thomas Tu’avao 61’), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Michael Baska (21 Danny Christensen 73’), 10 Cliven Loubser (23 James Vaifale 67’), 11 Josh Whippy (22 Hagen Schulte 61’), 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mike Te’o
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Mitch Damm (USA)
