Second half explosion fires Utah past New England

photo credit: Darren Zemanek / Major League Rugby

Recap

The Utah Warriors scored 26 unanswered points in the second half to secure a 39-33 come-from-behind win over the New England Free Jacks in Las Vegas on Saturday. In doing so they reversed their fortunes of their opening round loss to ATL just a week ago.

It was all Utah in the opening ten minutes. To their credit New England’s line bent but did not break, and after multiple attempts at a try the Warriors settled for three points from the boot of Hagen Schulte.

A mistake on the restart gave the Free Jacks an immediate chance to respond but instead of points they opted for the corner. The gamble paid off. Utah stopped the lineout drive but the ball was spun left with Mitch Wilson’s offload putting Deion Mikesell into the corner. Mikesell was a late addition to New England’s lineup after Beaudein Waaka pulled out.

Schulte slotted a long-range penalty goal before Fetu’u Vainikolo produced a bit of magic. The lineout move didn’t go as planned but the Tongan winger looped around the blindside and turned on the jets. He sold a dummy and eluded the outstretched arms of the Free Jacks cover for a sensational individual try.

New England got one back just before halftime. After sustained pressure from the forwards it was the captain Josh Larsen who dove over top of a ruck to touch down. Timothée Guillimin’s conversion kick was spot on and it was a one point game at the intermission.

The Free Jacks took the lead early in the second half. John Poland broke free from a lineout near halfway and brought the attack inside Utah’s 22 meter line. The ball went wide left then back across to the right where Poasa Waqanibau was waiting, handing off the challenge of countryman Veremalua Vukakoto to touch down in the corner. Guillimin split the uprights with the extras and the Free Jacks were up by six.

It was Poland again who created a next score just moments later. In near identical fashion he picked out a gap at the end of the lineout and sped free, this time connecting with Mikesell in close support for an easy two-on-one finish.

The momentum was firmly in New England’s favor but the pendulum swung back towards Utah just a couple minutes later. Brad Hemopo was binned for cynical play in scoring position and Chris Latham sent on fresh forwards in Kalolo Tuiloma and Saia Uhila. The Free Jacks scrum wilted under pressure and Dwayne Polataivao broke for the simplest of touchdowns.

Just as Hemopo was set to return the Free Jacks were hit with a second yellow. Waqanibau was judged to have played a knock-on from an offside position. The Warriors poured it on and Josh Whippy’s backhanded offload put Gannon Moore just a foot short. Schulte was on hand to pick and dive into the corner for the try, converting his own with a brilliant touchline kick to make it a one point game.

A frantic finale began with Utah retaking the lead. New England’s discipline cost them again and the forwards powered ahead until Uhila had the strength to squeeze over the line for a seven pointer.

Where the Warriors faded late against ATL just a week ago, this time they looked the stronger side in the closing moments. Moore stepped clean through a hole in New England’s kick-chase and connected with Whippy. He switched it back to Moore and Michael Baska was there for the offload and another cracking try from Utah.

There was time enough on the clock for the Free Jacks to score once more. Wilson went over in the corner to secure the try bonus point, and then Guillimin’s inch-perfect conversion earned a second bonus point before time expired.

 

SCORING

UTAH 39
Tries – F. Vainikolo (29’), D. Polataivao (53’), H. Schulte (61’), S. Uhila (69’), M. Baska (76’)
Cons – H. Schulte 4/5 (30’, 62’, 70’, 77’)
Pens – H. Schulte 2/2 (10’, 26’)

NEW ENGLAND 33
Tries – D. Mikesell 2 (15’, 46’), J. Larsen (36’), P. Waqanibau (42’), M. Wilson (79’)
Cons – T. Guillimin 4/5 (37’, 43’, 47’, 80’)
Yellow cards – B. Hemopo (49’), P. Waqanibau (59’)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 62’), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto (16 Ricky Tu’ihalangingie 73’), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Kalolo Tuiloma 51’), 4 John Cullen, 5 Matt Jensen (20 Saia Uhila 49’), 6 Bailey Wilson, 7 Thomas Tu’avao (19 Puna Vuli 71’), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Dwayne Polataivao (capt.) (21 Michael Baska 62’), 10 Hagen Schulte (22 Robbie Povey 78’), 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 12 Blake Hohaia, 13 Calvin Whiting (23 Tyler Fisher 67’), 14 Gannon Moore, 15 Josh Whippy

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Simon Courcoul (17 Kyle Ciquera 78’), 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Donald Brighouse (18 Quentin Newcomer 70’), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes, 6 Naulia Dawai (19 Conor Kindregan 28’), 7 Zack Stryffeler (20 Owen Hundt 62’), 8 Brad Hemopo, 9 John Poland, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Deion Mikesell, 12 Sam Beard, 13 Liam Steel (23 Danny Collins 55’), 14 Poasa Waqanibau, 15 Mitch Wilson

Not used: 16 Steven Hinshaw, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Peceli Rinakama

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Utah Warriors5420139
New England Free Jacks5400233

Utah Warriors

1Franco van den Berg 17 Loosehead Prop
2Veremalua Vugakoto 16 Hooker
3Angus MacLellan 18 Tighthead Prop
4John Cullen Left Lock
5Matt Jensen 20 Right Lock
6Bailey Wilson Blindside Flanker
7Thomas Tu’avao 19 Openside Flanker
8Jurie van Vuuren Number Eight
9Dwayne Polataivao 21 Scrumhalf
10Hagen Schulte 22 Flyhalf
11Fetu’u Vainikolo Left Wing
12Blake Hohaia Inside Center
13Calvin Whiting 23 Outside Center
14Gannon Moore Right Wing
15Josh Whippy Fullback
16Ricky Tu’ihalangingie 2 Hooker
17Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 1 Loosehead Prop
18Kalolo Tuiloma 3 Tighthead Prop
19Puna Vuli 7 Left Lock
20Saia Uhila 5 Right Lock
21Michael Baska 9 Scrumhalf
22Robbie Povey 10 Flyhalf
23Tyler Fisher 13 Outside Center

New England Free Jacks

1Simon Courcoul 17 Loosehead Prop
2Sean McNulty Hooker
3Donald Brighouse 18 Tighthead Prop
4Josh Larsen Right Lock
5Jackson Thiebes Left Lock
6Naulia Dawai 19 Openside Flanker
7Zack Stryffeler 20 Blindside Flanker
8Brad Hemopo Number Eight
9John Poland Scrumhalf
10Timothée Guillimin Flyhalf
11Deion Mikesell Left Wing
12Sam Beard Inside Center
13Liam Steel 23 Outside Center
14Poasa Waqanibau Right Wing
15Mitch Wilson Fullback
16Steven Hinshaw Hooker
17Kyle Ciquera 1 Loosehead Prop
18Quentin Newcomer 3 Tighthead Prop
19Conor Kindregan 6 Blindside Flanker
20Owen Hundt 7 Openside Flanker
21Erik Thompson Scrumhalf
22Peceli Rinakama Flyhalf
23Danny Collins 13 Right Wing

Officials

Referee
Scott Green (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistant Referee 2
Kat Roche (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
February 15, 2020 2:30 pm Eastern Conference 2020

Venue

Sam Boyd Stadium
Broadbent Boulevard, East Las Vegas, Whitney, Clark County, Nevada, 89122-7432, United States of America

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