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Raptors Defeat Warriors, Stay Perfect Through Three Weeks

Raptors Defeat Warriors, Stay Perfect Through Three Weeks

By: MLR Correspondent, Colton Strickler

Photo: Davey WIlson

The Glendale Raptors showed the world why they are the team to beat in Major League Rugby on Saturday afternoon when they defeated the Utah Warriors 36-29 to maintain their unblemished record.

The Raptors (3-0), for the second straight week, took their undefeated record on the road. After defeating the Seattle Seawolves in the rain last Friday, they would have their hands full with the Warriors (0-2) under the Herriman, Utah sun.

Both teams played tough defense early on, but it was the Raptors who cashed in first. Fly-half Will Magie started the scoring with a penalty kick and then on a possession or two later, skipped a ball wide to eight-man Sam Figg who finished the run with a try. Magie nailed the tough conversion to give the Raptors a 10-0 lead.

Utah didn’t take long to answer back. After barely missing an early penalty kick, Warriors’ fly-half Kurt Morath nailed the next one to cut into Glendale’s lead. The Warriors then made up the rest of the deficit when Angus Maclellan threw a dummy after some phase play to freeze the Raptors’ defense just enough to squeeze in for the try. Morath conversion tied the match at 10, and the game broke for halftime shortly after.

The rest of the match consisted of a seesaw of tries. Utah pushed their 10-0 run to a 17-0 run when Tevita Tameilau busted through the Raptors’ line and slipped the ball outside to Fets Vainikolo for a try.

Glendale stopped the bleeding with a long try of their own. Inside centre Bryce Campbell took the ball deep in his own territory and used the big space that Utah gave him to push the pace. His long run created space for wing Harley Davidson who turned on the jets to score the try. Magie’s conversion tied the match at 17.

The Raptors next try came when Campbell caught a chip and spun out of a tackle. Peter Dahl pushed the ball in for a try after a few phases and Magie’s conversion gave the Raptors gave the Raptors a seven-point lead.

The Warriors answered back with a Tonata Lauti’s first try of the match in the corner of the in goal, but Morath wasn’t able to make the tough conversion which allowed Glendale to maintain a two-point lead but Utah, and more specifically Lauti, wasn’t finished.

Lauti took a ball with a full head of steam deep in his own territory and after making the initial tackler miss was off to the races for a 65-metre try that gave the Warriors the lead with 12 minutes to play.

Glendale, down 29-24, wore down the Warriors with some phase play and eventually opened up some space for Campbell to score the tying try. Magie’s conversion put the Raptors up 31-29. The Raptors didn’t waste much time adding some padding before the final whistle though. Davidson busted another long run in the final minutes that allowed Magie to find Mika Kruse in the corner for the final try of the match. Magie wasn’t able to convert which meant that the Warriors would have one final chance to tie the match.

The Warriors worked their way deep into Glendale’s territory as the game clock rolled over into stoppage time. The Raptors were able to stand strong and escaped danger when Utah committed a penalty in the ruck that allowed Glendale to finish the match.

The Raptors, the only undefeated team remaining, will welcome the San Diego Legion to Glendale Sunday, May 13 while the Warriors will stay at home to take on Austin Elite Rugby Friday, May 11.

Scoring

Glendale Raptors

Tries: Sam Figg, Harley Davidson, Peter Dahl, Bryce Campbell, Mika Kruse

Penalties: Will Magie (1/1)

Conversions: Will Magie (4/5)

Scoring

Utah Warriors

Tries: Angus Maclellan, Fets Vainikolo, Tonata Lauti (2)

Penalties: Kurt Morath (1/2)

Conversions: Kurt Morath (3/4)

Colton can be reached at colton@usmlr.com