Warriors knock AG’s off Western Conference pedestal

The Austin Gilgronis are no longer the top team in the Western Conference. Utah were 22-8 winners at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday evening, the Warriors denying the AG’s a single bonus point. Combined with LA’s earlier win over Dallas and Austin are now in second spot on the table.

Things started reasonably well for the AG’s. Will Magie’s cross-kick found Chris Mattina and the fullback looked for all money to be in, but Caleb Makene somehow held him up. Austin were on advantage and they opted for the lineout, with Robbie Coetzee getting credit for the try. Magie pulled the conversion attempt to the left and the flags stayed down.

Julián Domínguez would soon find himself in trouble for some reckless behavior. The Argentine chipped ahead and when Connor Burns slid to collect the ball, Domínguez connected with Burns’ head. There was sufficient mitigation for the referee to show him a yellow card instead of red.

Austin came close to scoring while Dominguez was off, and just after he returned to the pitch Utah broke from their own end. Makene was hauled down just short of the line by Mark O’Keeffe. The AG’s were penalised for diving over the top of a ruck and Zion Going astutely went quick to catch the defense off-guard. Calvin Whiting’s conversion nudged the home side ahead by two.

Mika Kruse was hurt on the play and trudged off, replaced by Mikey Te’o. A couple minutes later Cam Dodson rumbled down the left sideline but he was bundled into touch by Joe Mano. Austin were on advantage and Magie made good on a penalty goal to put the AG’s back in front, the 8-7 score holding until halftime.

Early in the second half Te’o sprinted clear from his own end but a desperate O’Keeffe tackle again saved a certain try. Soon after the Warriors would settle for three points from the boot of Whiting, taking a lead they would not relinquish.

O’Keeffe made his mark on offense as well, stepping and bouncing through the midfield to put the Warriors on the back foot. Magie found a gap and put Michael de Waal into space, but the Utah defense held and soon forced a knock-on.

Just after the hour mark Saia Uhila charged onto a short pass from Makene and trampled one defender before being hauled down by Bryce Campbell. At the ensuing breakdown Locky McCaffrey was binned for killing the ball, and the Warriors hammered ahead until Paul Lasike bashed over for the try. Whiting converted to make it a two-score game.

Soon after Jurie van Vuuren went in under the posts only for none other than O’Keeffe to dislodge the ball before it could be grounded. It was only a stay of execution for the AG’s, however, as Niall Saunders broke from a ruck and sprinted home from 20 meters out to put the result beyond doubt.

Both teams return to action next Saturday. Utah host the new Western Conference leaders LA, while Austin return home to take on the San Diego Legion.

 

SCORING

UTAH 22
Tries – Z. Going (27′), P. Lasike (66′), N. Saunders (73′)
Cons – C. Whiting 2/3 (28′, 67′)
Pens – C. Whiting 1/1 (44′)

AUSTIN 8
Tries – R. Coetzee (12′)
Cons – W. Magie 0/1
Pens – W. Magie 1/1 (31′)
YC – J. Domínguez (15′), L. McCaffrey (62′)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior (18 Angus MacLellan 51′), 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen (17 Olive Kilifi 64′), 4 Saia Uhila (20 David Beach 62′), 5 Puna Vuli (19 Jurie van Vuuren 51′), 6 Thomas Tu’avao (16 Tuvere Vugakoto 64′), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Zion Going (21 Niall Saunders 51′), 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse (23 Mikey Te’o 28′), 12 Tyler Fisher (22 Paul Lasike 51′), 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Connor Burns

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Payton Telea-Ilalio 51′), 2 Robbie Coetzee (16 Mason Koch 62′), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 LaRome White 74′), 4 Christian Ostberg (19 Isaac Ross 51′), 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal (20 Locky McCaffrey 53′), 9 Pele Cowley (21 Ryan Louwrens 59′), 10 Will Magie (22 Conner Mooneyham 59′), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.) (*23 Dom Akina 67′), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Chris Mattina

*23 Dom Akina left the game at 77 minutes and could not be replaced

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Mike Lash (New Zealand) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)