SaberCats stumble in New Orleans

Recap

Houston’s hopes of reaching the Major League Rugby Semi Finals took a major tumble as the SaberCats flopped to a 24-20 defeat at the hands of the NOLA Gold on Saturday. Played on a choppy field in sweltering heat, both teams struggled to find continuity with discipline also front and center. Zach Pangelinan was sent off early in the second half leaving the SaberCats shorthanded while swimming against the tide.

A try in no time from Sam Windsor shifted NOLA into panic mode. The Houston flyhalf checked his run and stepped back inside a casual Gold defense to score with worrying ease, his conversion putting the Cats up 7-0 with the game barely started.

It took more than 20 minutes for the game to conjure another score and again it was abject defensive coverage that gave it up, but this time on the part of Houston. Simple hands hit Zack Stryffeler on a line straight through a gap fit for a caravan. Taylor Howden’s conversion brought the scores level.

Windsor landed a penalty goal to wrench the lead back for Houston but it lasted mere seconds. A well-placed kick ahead left Pangelinan scrambling and he made a hash of the the regather. Holden Yungert was on the spot to contest but Pangelinan didn’t let go and the referee had no option but the penalty try, with the fullback sent to the bin for his troubles.

The two sides exchanged converted tries just before the break. Peceli Rinakama snuck through for NOLA but was matched by Connor Murphy at the other end. With only four points between them it was all to play for in the second half.

Unfortunately inspiration was in short order and neither could grab hold of the momentum. Repeat scrum collapses resulted in a 10-minute break for Hubert Buydens and he had only just sat down in the bin when Pangelinan’s day got worse. A head-high tackle earned him a second yellow and with it red, leaving the SaberCats down to 14 for the remainder.

Howden took three from the penalty but that would be the end of their account for the day. Windsor knocked over a penalty of his own before the game descended further into mediocrity for the final minutes. Not a single try would be scored in the second half.

SCORING

NOLA 24
Tries – Z. Stryffeler (26’), Penalty try (33’), P. Rinakama (38’)
Cons – T. Howden 2/2 (27’, 39’)
Pens – T. Howden 1/2 (54’)
Yellow cards – H. Buydens (51’)

HOUSTON 20
Tries – S. Windsor (3’), C. Murphy (40’)
Cons – S. Windsor 2/2 (4’, 40’)
Pens – S. Windsor 2/2 (31’, 64’)
Yellow cards – Z. Pangelinan (33’)
Red cards – Z. Pangelinan (53’)

TEAMS

NOLA GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens (18 Derrek van Klein 61’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Amro Gouda 76’), 3 Ben Tarr (17 Cam Falcon 54’), 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Matt Wirken (19 Billy Stewart HT), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Matt Hughston, 8 John Sullivan (21 Chad Joseph 51’), 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Peceli Rinakama (20 Brennan Falcon 67’), 11 Joeli Tikoisuva (23 Joey Sok 73’), 12 Taylor Howden (capt.), 13 Zack Stryffeler, 14 Bobby Johns (18 Derrek van Klein 52’-61’), 15 Michael Baska

Not used: 22 Vita Makasini

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Adam Macklin 67’), 2 Lindsey Stevens (18 Jack Riley 67’), 3 Paul Mullen (16 Diego Maquieira 76’), 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Robert Meeson (19 Justin Allen 55’), 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.), 7 Chris Coyle (21 Cecil Garber 55’), 8 Matt Trouville (20 Chris Parker 73’), 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Alex Elkins, 12 Conor Mills (23 Dan Paul 55’), 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan

Not used: 22 Chris Slater