Dramatic ending sees Old Glory beat Utah to end losing streak

Old Glory DC’s nine-game losing streak came to an end as they defeated the Utah Warriors 22-21 at Segra Field on Friday night. The match ended in dramatic fashion, as the home side came back from a 21-10 second half deficit with Calvin Whiting’s penalty kick on full time pushing wide of the uprights.

Utah were quickest to the scoreboard, with Mike Te’o sniping through the middle of a ruck to catch the DC defense napping. Caleb Makene was there in support to take the back-handed offload in for seven points.

After a 15-minute scoreless stretch the home side got their first try. Danny Tusitala went quick at a penalty, and quick hands down the backline saw Thretton Palamo complete a simple two-on-one pass to Junior Sa’u to touch down in the corner. Rohan Saifoloi’s conversion attempt drifted wide right.

Whiting responded with a penalty goal, but DC fired back straight away with another sweeping backline attack. Renata Roberts-Te Nana regathered a bobbled ball, and it was shipped to William Talataina. A miss-pass to Peni Lasaqa was high but the winger held on and beat two players before rolling through the tackle attempt of Danny Christensen to score. Saifoloi’s kick hit bounced off the right post.

Te’o had left the pitch for an HIA just before Lasaqa’s try after bouncing his head off the turf in a tackle. Whiting’s second penalty goal gave Utah a 13-10 lead. Just before the break Roberts-Te Nana came off second-best in a tackle and was also pulled off for a medical assessment.

When the two teams returned Te’o was back on the pitch but Roberts-Te Nana’s day was done. Tyler Fisher busted through the DC line and after a second go from the big center, Te’o was on hand to take a short pass in over for the try. Whiting missed the conversion but added his third penalty to give Utah an 11-point lead with a half-hour to play.

A TMO decision made during the hydration break saw Thomas Tu’avao binned for a shoulder charge on Owen Sheehy. Within a minute Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz had powered over after Tusitala’s half-break put the Warriors on the back foot. For a third time Saifoloi couldn’t find his range on the conversion.

Once back to full strength Utah were again pinned in their end, and repeat infringements saw James Mocke receive a yellow card for an offside penalty. Felix Kalapu dropped what would have been a certain try, but Old Glory’s pack won a penalty against the short-handed Warriors scrum. Moments later Fintan Coleman went low and slide over the line for a try. This time Saifoloi’s radar was on target and the kick gave the home side a one-point lead.

Tu’avao was in trouble at the restart after his shoulder connected with Lasaqa’s head in tackle. The TMO decided that the winger had dipped and opted only to award a penalty. As Old Glory tried to grind down the clock Angus MacLellan won a turnover, and Whiting had his shot to win the game from 40 meters out. It wasn’t to be, the ball swinging right and the referee blew the whistle for full-time.

Both teams play at home next Saturday. Old Glory welcome the Dallas Jackals to Segra Field, while Utah takes on the Seattle Seawolves at Zions Bank Stadium.

 

SCORING

DC 22
Tries – J. Sa’u (22′), P. Lasaqa (33′), J. Fa’anana-Schultz (60′), F. Coleman (76′)
Cons – R. Saifoloi 1/4 (77′)

UTAH 21
Tries – C. Makene (6′), M. Te’o (42′)
Cons – No kick (6′), C. Whiting 0/1
Pens – C. Whiting 3/4 (29′, 36′, 48′)
YC – T. Tu’avao (59′), J. Mocke (74′)

 

TEAMS

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Rob Irimescu, 3 Kyle Stewart (18 Jake Ilnicki 57′), 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Stan South, 6 Felix Kalapu (19 Fintan Coleman 74′), 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Luke Campbell (20 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz 52′), 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Rohan Saifoloi, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 William Talataina, 13 Thretton Palamo, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana (23 Owen Sheehy 38′)

Not used: 16 Mo Katz, 17 Jack Carroll, 21 Dacoda Worth, 22 Danny Thomas

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Olive Kilifi 23′), 2 Tuvere Vugakoto, 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 54′), 4 Jurie van Vuuren (19 James Mocke 69′), 5 Thomas Tu’avao, 6 Mike Gieselman (20 Puna Vuli 58′), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams (21 Taris Schramm 69′), 9 Danny Christensen (22 Zion Going 68′), 10 Caleb Makene (23 James Vaifale 54′), 11 Connor Burns, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mike Te’o (23 James Vaifale 31′-HT)

Not used: 16 Joey Backe

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Gavin McCandless (USA) & Aaron Davis (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)