Late Warriors try denies Gilgronis victory in Austin

photo credit: Norma Salinas / Austin Gilgronis Rugby

Recap

A last-gasp try from Kalolo Tuiloma pulled the Utah Warriors from the jaws of defeat at Bold Stadium on Saturday. The 20-20 draw denied Austin a first victory since their debut season but did put a halt to a 20-game losing streak that dated back to June 1 of 2018.

Marcelo Torrealba’s penalty in the 7th minute opened the scoring after Utah were pinged for illegal entry at the breakdown. It was Austin, however, who felt the wrath of the referee after a series of penalties resulted in a yellow card to Jamie Mackintosh just 15 minutes into his Major League Rugby debut.

Austin were forced to bring on Juan Echeverría to hold the scrum and though the referee was reluctant to award a penalty try, eventually the Warriors would not be denied. Jurie van Vuuren took a quick tap and charged ahead, with captain Dwayne Polataivao finding a gap and falling over the line for the score.

The two sides found little purchase with the stalemate holding until the stroke of halftime. A high tackle penalty gave Hagen Schulte a chance for three and he made no mistake to leave the score 10-3 in favor of Utah at the intermission.

Frank Halai entered the game at halftime and the former All Blacks winger made an immediate impact with a 40 meter run on his first touch. The initial thrust was stopped short but Utah could not clear their lines and after several phases Tiaan Erasmus squeezed over with Torrealba’s extras leveling the scores.

Halai would not have to wait long for his first try in Austin colors. Zinzan Elan-Puttick cleaned up sloppy possession near midfield and offloaded to Lino Saunitoga. The Fijian put Corey Jones in to space and after a right foot step sucked in the final defender, Halai taking the offload in for seven points.

For half an hour the defense held, with only a single penalty goal from Schulte conceded. Rodrick Waters chased down a Torrealba high ball and pinned Utah in their end with only a minute to play. Puna Vuli’s offload to Jurie van Vuuren put the Warriors in behind the Austin defense and then poor discipline cost them 40 meters and an attacking lineout.

Veremalua Vugakoto hit John Cullen and the drive would not be stopped. From a meter out Tuiloma broke away and bashed over the line for the try. Schulte nailed the conversion from a tricky angle and the final whistle blew to signal all square.

 

SCORING

AUSTIN 20
Tries – T. Erasmus (44′), F. Halai (51′)
Cons – M. Torrealba 2/2 (45′, 52′)
Pens – M. Torrealba 2/2 (7′, 65′)
Yellow cards – J. Mackintosh (15′)

UTAH 20
Tries – D. Polataivao (20′), K. Tuiloma (80′)
Cons – H. Schulte 2/2 (21′, 80′)
Pens – H. Schulte 2/3 (40′, 60′)

 

TEAMS

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Tiaan Erasmus (16 Brendan Rams 45′), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Juan Echeverría 59′), 4 Maikeli Naromaitoga (19 Luca Tani 70′), 5 Potu Leavasa, 6 Dominic Akina, 7 Moe Abdelmonem, 8 Lino Saunitoga (18 Juan Echeverría 17′-25′), 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (capt.), 11 Rodrick Waters, 12 Gabe Farley, 13 Peni Tagive (23 Frank Halai HT), 14 Corey Jones, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Not used: 17 LaRome White, 20 Stewart Morris, 21 Colby Stevens, 22 Sione Fangaiuiha

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 61′), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Kalolo Tuiloma 50′), 4 John Cullen, 5 Matt Jensen (19 Puna Vuli 62′), 6 Bailey Wilson, 7 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Saia Uhila 42′), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Dwayne Polataivao (capt.) (21 Michael Baska 56′), 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 James Vaifale, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher (23 Dom Toluono 67′), 14 Gannon Moore, 15 Robbie Povey

Not used: 16 Ricky Tu’ihalangingie, 22 Jared Whippy

 

Result

TeamTCPDPoints
Austin Gilgronis222020
Utah Warriors222020

Austin Gilgronis

1Jamie Mackintosh Loosehead Prop
2Tiaan Erasmus 16 Hooker
3Mason Pedersen 18 Tighthead Prop
4Maikeli Naromaitoga 19 Left Lock
5Potu Leavasa Right Lock
6Dominic Akina Blindside Flanker
7Moe Abdelmonem Openside Flanker
8Lino Saunitoga Number Eight
9Marcelo Torrealba Scrumhalf
10Zinzan Elan-Puttick Flyhalf
11Rodrick Waters Left Wing
12Gabe Farley Inside Center
13Peni Tagive 23 Outside Center
14Corey Jones Right Wing
15Rodrigo Silva Fullback
16Brendan Rams 2 Hooker
17LaRome White Loosehead Prop
18Juan Echeverría 3 Tighthead Prop
19Luca Tani 4 Left Lock
20Stewart Morris Flanker
21Colby Stevens Scrumhalf
22Sione Fangaiuiha Inside Center
23Frank Halai 13 Outside Center

Utah Warriors

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

Officials

Referee
Mike O’Brien (USA)
Assistant Referee 1
Kat Roche (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Butch Neuenschwander (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
February 22, 2020 8:00 pm Major League Rugby 2020

Venue

Bold Stadium
Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States of America

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