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The Chicago Hounds pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season as they defeated the Utah Warriors 26-24 at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday night. It knocked the home side out of the playoff race to the benefit of the Houston SaberCats, who will return to the postseason for a second straight year.
It was an ominous start for the Warriors as they conceded a try on the opening sequence of the game. A knock-on handed over possession and JP Eloff broke a tackle out wide, passing to an open Julián Domínguez for a runaway finish. Luke Carty nailed the conversion to make it a full seven with just two minutes on the clock.
The Warriors came back but found it tough going against a staunch Hounds defense. A lineout drive was stuffed and then when Joe Mano stepped and sprinted his way towards what looked like a certain try, Carty arrived out of nowhere to wrap Mano’s legs and Eloff knocked the ball free from his hands before the grounding. At last the try came when Thomas Tu’avao broke from a rolling maul and had just enough length to reach the line. Joel Hodgson’s conversion evened the score.
Chicago were up for the challenge and the visitors scored next. Billy Meakes tore up the middle to set Utah’s alarm bells ringing. Mike Matarazzo stepped in at halfback and passed to Carty, who in turn fired a wide miss-out to Domínguez. There were three defenders in his way but none could stop the Argentine from breaching the line, with Carty again spot-on from the sideline.
Utah tied up the game just before halftime. Mano shot into the line at first receiver from a scrum, and he fed a looping Hodgson who sped through a gap. One sidestep later and the flyhalf was under the posts for a full seven and it was all to play for after 40 minutes.
Rain began to fall early in the second half and Hodgson sent a perfectly-weighted kick into the corner from inside his own half, but just before it reached touch Domínguez showed extraordinary skill by kicking the ball back in play to deny a 50-22. The Warriors would then settle for three points from Hodgson instead of pressing for a try.
Duke Krishnan punished some lackadaisical Utah defense when he burst through a gap on the edge of a ruck to score a third Chicago try. Carty’s kick had the legs but rang off the post and the flags stayed down. Krishnan then went from hero to villain with a yellow card brandished after repeat infringements.
On came the pressure from Utah but Chicago’s defense held, turning away several challenges before the Warriors finally got some payoff. Again they went for the driving maul and Lance Williams spun away, whirling over the line to the home side a precarious 24-19 lead.
With the clock just seconds away from 80 minutes the Warriors attempted to attack from a lineout, in search of a bonus point. The ball didn’t go to hand, however, and Lindsey Stevens pounced to win possession for the Hounds. Chris Mattina made ground on the right side, then it was none other than Domínguez waiting on the left. Once again he beat three players with no space to score his hat trick. The stunned Warriors could only watch as Mattina split the uprights to seal a famous victory.
Chicago’s inaugural campaign comes to a close against the Dallas Jackals in Arlington next Saturday. Utah can take out their frustrations against the New York Ironworkers in Mount Vernon on Sunday.
SCORING
UTAH 24
Tries (3) – T. Tu’avao (22′), J. Hodgson (38′), L. Williams (64′)
Cons (3) – J. Hodgson 2/2 (23′, 65′), No kick (38′)
Pens (1) – J. Hodgson 1/1 (45′)
CHICAGO 26
Tries (4) – J. Domínguez 3 (2′, 28′, 80’+1′), D. Krishnan (46′)
Cons (3) – L. Carty 2/3 (3′, 29′), C. Mattina 1/1 (80’+2′)
YC (1) – D. Krishnan (57′)
TEAMS
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Emerson Prior 61′), 2 Henry Bell, 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 61′), 4 Jamie Lane (20 Jurie van Vuuren 71′), 5 Onehunga Havili, 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Thomas Tu’avao (19 Saia Uhila 63′), 9 Connor McLeod, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Mika Kruse (22 Tomasi Tonga 29′ {23 Tyler Fisher 71′}), 14 Caleb Makene, 15 Cliven Loubser
Not used: 16 Joey Backe, 21 Zion Going
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White, 2 Hugh Roach (16 Lindsey Stevens 56′), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Charlie Abel 54′), 4 John Cullen (21 Justice Nkombua 68′), 5 Duke Krishnan (19 Sam Peri 79′), 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Maclean Jones (20 Michael de Waal 71′), 8 Tinashe Muchena, 9 Sidney Shoop, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Matai Leuta (22 Michael Baska 13′), 15 JP Eloff (23 Chris Mattina 60′)
Not used: 17 Steveni Lombard
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Cisco Lopez (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
