Windsor the Hero as Houston edge Austin

photo credit: Norma Salinas / Austin Elite Rugby

Recap

A 79th minute penalty goal from Sam Windsor gave the Houston SaberCats a 21-20 win over Austin Elite on opening day of the new Major League Rugby season on Saturday. Heavy rain made conditions difficult at Dell Diamond but didn’t throw off Windsor’s boot, the flyhalf scoring all 21 points for the Cats with a perfect seven from seven kicks at goal.

It didn’t take long for Windsor to make his mark as he landed two penalties in the opening minutes. A back-and-forth battle at the scrum saw both teams earning penalties. Mickaël Romera couldn’t connect on his first shot but he would make good on a conversion after Chris Schade was driven over at a lineout.

Windsor would land two more kicks before the break with Romera responding with one of his own on the stroke of halftime. The score read 12-10 in Houston’s favor at the interval. A dangerous tackle landed Austin winger Peni Tagive in the bin early in the second half and soon after Windsor punished them further with his fifth successful kick.

Houston’s discipline also cost them as prop Jamie Dever saw yellow for a professional foul. With the man advantage Austin moved into range and Josh Larsen had the strength to get in under the SaberCats defense. Tim Guillimin took over the kicking with Romera off and was on target with the conversion.

As the clock wound down Windsor and Guillimin each landed long-range efforts. It was Houston’s man who came up trumps in the end, Austin conceding another penalty to gift the opportunity. The Elite couldn’t regather the restart and Connor Murphy hacked the ball into the stands for the win.

 

SCORING

AUSTIN 20
Tries – C. Schade (12’), J. Larsen (59’)
Cons – M. Romera 1/1 (13’), T. Guillimin 1/1 (60’)
Pens – M. Romera 1/2 (40’), T. Guillimin 1/1 (73’)
Yellow cards – P. Tagive (48’)

HOUSTON 21
Pens – S. Windsor 7/7 (2’, 8’, 16’, 34’, 52’, 67’, 79’)
Yellow cards – J. Dever (55’)

 

TEAMS

AUSTIN ELITE
1 Simon Courcoul (19 Brendan Rams 53’), 2 Chris Schade, 3 Juan Echeverría (23 Mason Pedersen 53’), 4 Ben Mitchell (capt.), 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Kyle Breytenbach, 7 Rikus Zwart, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Mickaël Romera (20 Marcelo Torrealba 53’), 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Alex Faison-Donahoe, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Sione Fangaiuiha, 14 Peni Tagive, 15 Zinzan Elan-Puttick

Not used: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 LaRome White, 18 Dom Bailey, 21 Soheyl Jaoudat, 22 Reece Czarnecki

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Jamie Dever (17 Jake Turnbull 74’), 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Robert Meeson (20 Chris Coyle 62’), 5 Matt Trouville (capt.), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Ayron Schramm, 9 Santiago Arata (21 Connor Murphy 62’), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Joe Kelly (17 Jake Turnbull 65-68’) (23 Kelly Kolberg 68’), 12 Conor Mills, 13 Max Tacket, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan

Not used: 16 Jack Riley, 18 Matt Almeida, 19 Chris Parker, 22 Irving Carcamo

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Austin Elite2220120
Houston SaberCats007021

Austin Elite

1Simon Courcoul 19 Loosehead Prop
2Chris Schade Hooker
3Juan Echeverría 23 Tighthead Prop
4Ben Mitchell Left Lock
5Josh Larsen Right Lock
6Kyle Breytenbach Left Flanker
7Rikus Zwart Right Flanker
8Travis Larsen Number Eight
9Mickaël Romera 20 Scrumhalf
10Timothée Guillimin Flyhalf
11Alex Faison-Donahoe Left Wing
12Andrés Vilaseca Inside Center
13Sione Fangaiuiha Outside Center
14Peni Tagive Right Wing
15Zinzan Elan-Puttick Fullback
16Tiaan Erasmus Hooker
17LaRome White Loosehead Prop
18Dom Bailey Openside Flanker
19Brendan Rams 1 Hooker
20Marcelo Torrealba 9 Scrumhalf
21Soheyl Jaoudat Fullback
22Reece Czarnecki Wing
23Mason Pedersen 3 Tighthead Prop

Houston SaberCats

1Jamie Dever 17 Loosehead Prop
2Pat O’Toole Hooker
3Charlie Connolly Tighthead Prop
4Robert Meeson 20 Left Lock
5Matt Trouville Right Lock
6Luke Beauchamp Left Lock, Blindside Flanker
7Cecil Garber Openside Flanker
8Ayron Schramm Number Eight
9Santiago Arata 21 Scrumhalf
10Sam Windsor Flyhalf
11Joe Kelly 23 Left Wing
12Conor Mills Inside Center
13Max Tacket Outside Center
14Malacchi Esdale Right Wing
15Zach Pangelinan Fullback
16Jack Riley Hooker
17Jake Turnbull 1 Loosehead Prop
18Matt Almeida Tighthead Prop
19Chris Parker Lock
20Chris Coyle 4 Blindside Flanker
21Connor Murphy 9 Scrumhalf
22Irving Carcamo Inside Center
23Kelly Kolberg 11 Left Wing

Officials

Referee
Derek Summers (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Paul-Henri Courbier (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Butch Neuenschwander (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season Attendance
January 26, 2019 8:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019 1604

Venue

Dell Diamond
3400 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665, USA

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