Warriors too strong for SaberCats

photo credit: Dave Snook / 8th Man Photography / Houston SaberCats

Recap

The Utah Warriors dealt a hammer blow to the Semi Final chances of the Houston SaberCats as they took a 36-30 win over their hosts at Dyer Stadium on Saturday. Both teams struggled with continuity in the Texas heat with shorts bursts of excitement surrounded by large periods of inactivity.

As they did against the Gold, the SaberCats came out with all guns blazing and Sam Windsor set over the opening points with less than two minutes on the clock. Osea Kolinisau started and finished a brilliant team try, scorching past Utah defenders before offloading and following up to take a return pass from Josua Vici to score under the posts.

Houston’s ability to stay on task for a full 80 minutes had been questioned before the match and they seemed to let up after the Kolinisau try. It was Utah who scored next with two tries in quick succession. The first saw big lock Matt Jensen stretching his legs in a 20-odd meter gallop, the second going to Lance Williams after a bruising run from Paul Lasike. Both were converted by Kurt Morath.

The SaberCats picked up a second try to end the frantic opening with Vici himself finishing in style. Windsor and Morath exchanged penalties as the match slogged its way to the break to make it a three-point home lead to open the second half.

It was Utah who fired first following the intermission. Don Pati struck with a cracking individual effort, stepping back inside and past several would-be tacklers. Windsor replied with a penalty after Alex Tucci was binned for a professional foul. The numerical disadvantage was hardly noticed however as Tonata Lauti stretched through a tackle to score a bonus-point try for the Warriors.

Connor Murphy broke up a monotonous period with an astute break from a scrum that caught the Utah defense by surprise. Windsor’s conversion gave the SaberCats an unlikely lead but the Warriors would have the final say with Lote Tu’ipulotu showing his mobility to find the line and seal the win.

 

SCORING

HOUSTON 30
Tries – O. Kolinisau (5’), J. Vici (18’), C. Murphy (62’)
Cons – S. Windsor 3/3 (6’, 19’, 63’)
Pens – S. Windsor 3/3 (2’, 22’, 46’)

UTAH 36
Tries – M. Jensen (9’), L. Williams (13’), D. Pati (43’), T. Lauti (48’), L. Tu’ipulotu (69’)
Cons – K. Morath 4/5 (10’, 14’, 44’, 70’)
Pens – K. Morath 1/1 (37’)
Yellow cards – A. Tucci (46’)

 

TEAMS

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Adam Macklin (17 Jake Turnbull 60’), 2 Lindsey Stevens (16 Diego Maquieira 64’), 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Matt Trouville (19 Robert Meeson 72’), 6 Chris Coyle, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Kyle Sumsion (capt.) (20 Pago Haini 64’), 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Josua Vici, 12 Conor Mills, 13 Dan Paul (22 Joey Iosefa 64’), 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Osea Kolinisau

Not used: 18 Kenneth Hepburn, 21 Chris Slater, 23 Alex Elkins

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci (19 Ray Forrester 70’), 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu, 3 Angus MacLellan (17 Maka Tameilau 70’), 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Lance Williams (20 John Cullen HT), 7 Ara Elkington, 8 David Tameilau (17 Maka Tameilau 47’-56’) (18 Les Soloai 60’), 9 Joseph Nicholls (23 Ben Nicholls 60’), 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Tonata Lauti, 12 Paul Lasike (capt.), 13 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 14 Iniki Fa’amausili (22 Vernon Ale 64’), 15 Don Pati

Not used: 16 Tino Mafi, 21 Jonny Linehan

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Houston SaberCats3330130
Utah Warriors5410136

Houston SaberCats

1Adam Macklin 17 Loosehead Prop
2Lindsey Stevens 16 Hooker
3Paul Mullen Tighthead Prop
4Charlie Hewitt Right Lock
5Matt Trouville 19 Left Lock
6Chris Coyle Blindside Flanker
7Cecil Garber Openside Flanker
8Kyle Sumsion 20 Number Eight
9Connor Murphy Scrumhalf
10Sam Windsor Flyhalf
11Josua Vici Left Wing
12Conor Mills Inside Center
13Dan Paul 22 Outside Center
14Malacchi Esdale Right Wing
15Osea Kolinisau Fullback
16Diego Maquieira 2 Hooker
17Jake Turnbull 1 Loosehead Prop
18Kenneth Hepburn Tighthead Prop
19Robert Meeson 5 Left Lock
20Pago Haini 8 Number Eight
21Chris Slater Scrumhalf
22Joey Iosefa 13 Inside Center
23Alex Elkins Wing

Utah Warriors

1Alex Tucci 19 Loosehead Prop
2Lote Tu’ipulotu Hooker
3Angus MacLellan 17 Tighthead Prop
4Matt Jensen Right Lock
5Saia Uhila Left Lock
6Lance Williams 20 Blindside Flanker
7Ara Elkington Openside Flanker
8Tevita Tameilau 18 Number Eight
9Joseph Nicholls 23 Scrumhalf
10Kurt Morath Flyhalf
11Tonata Lauti Left Wing
12Paul Lasike Inside Center
13Fetu’u Vainikolo Outside Center
14Iniki Fa’amausili 22 Right Wing
15Don Pati Fullback
16Tino Mafi Hooker
17Maka Tameilau 3 Tighthead Prop
18Les Soloai 8 Number Eight
19Ray Forrester 1 Hooker
20John Cullen 6 Blindside Flanker
21Jonny Linehan Flyhalf
22Vernon Ale 14 Right Wing
23Ben Nicholls 9 Scrumhalf

Officials

Referee
Scott Green (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Derek Summers (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Chris Brown (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
May 26, 2018 6:00 pm Major League Rugby 2018

Venue

Dyer Stadium
2020 Mangum Rd, Houston, TX 77092, USA

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