NEWS

​Utah Moves Into Third Place With Win Over Houston

Utah Moves Into Third Place With Win Over Houston

By: MLR Correspondent, Colton Strickler

Photos: 8th Man Photography, Bigshots Snapshots (Osea)

The Utah Warriors traveled to Houston on Saturday afternoon to take on the SaberCats in a match that shook up the standings. With both sides sitting at 1-3, a Week 6 win would place one team that much closer to a shot at the postseason.

Houston (1-4), who is no stranger to close matches, had their hearts broken once again – this time in a 36-30 loss to Utah (2-3).

The SaberCats may have come up short in the loss, but they were the side that came out firing early, putting Utah in a 10-point hole early. Fly-half Sam Windsor got the scoring started early with a penalty kick and the SaberCats followed that up with the match’s first try.

Houston showed just how dangerous their offense can be when Malacchi Esdale flew through the Warriors’ line and passed the ball to Osea Kolinisau. The SaberCats kept the ball moving around before it eventually ended back in Kolinisau’s hands for a try right between the posts. Windsor, who didn’t miss a kick on Saturday, knocked the conversion through.

Utah lock Matt Jensen stopped the 10-0 run by taking a pass with a full head of steam through a few SaberCat tackles and in for the Warriors’ first points of the match. Fly-half Kurt Morath nailed the conversion, cutting the deficit to three points.

Warriors’ flanker Lance Williams kept the momentum that Utah had built up rolling with a pick-and-go that he punched in for a try. After Morath’s conversion, the Warriors had taken their first lead of the match at 14-10.

The SaberCats’ put a cap on the first 20 minutes of action with one more try. Houston wasn’t going to just roll over, and they showed that when their high-powered backline punched in their second try of the match. SaberCats’ wing Josua Vici received a switch down in the Utah territory for the match’s fourth try. The SaberCats took a 17-14 lead into the 20-minute hydration break.

The second 20 minutes of the first half saw both sides trade penalty kicks, and Houston took a 20-17 lead into the half. While the SaberCats’ did allow three points, they stuffed the Warriors several times with their backs against the wall.

Utah made use of the halftime breather by scoring the first points of the second half. Fullback Don Pati took a pass on the run in for a try. Morath nailed the conversion to flip the score 24-20 in Utah’s favor.

Houston inched closer with a Windsor penalty kick, but Utah answered back with a try when Morath threw skipped a pass wide to wing Tonata Lauti who put a cap on the run. Morath wasn’t able to hit the tough conversion, giving Utah a 29-23 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the match.

The SaberCats retook the lead when scrum-half Connor Murphy picked up a ball that rolled through the back of a Utah scrum in for a try. Windsor’s kick made it 30-29, but Utah had one more score in them.

Utah put the final nail in Houston’s coffin in the 69th minute when hooker Lote Tu’ipulotu threw a dummy and punched in the game-winning try himself. Morath’s conversion made it 36-30, and the Warriors escaped with a win.

The Warriors’ five-point day gives them 14 points on the season and moves them into third place ahead of the final match of the weekend. Houston remains in seventh place but did pick up an ever-important bonus point in the loss, bringing them up to nine points on the season and still in striking distance of the postseason.

Utah will travel to Texas again next week to take on Austin Elite Rugby on Friday, June 1 while Houston will welcome the Seattle Seawolves to town for on Saturday, June 2.

Scoring

Utah Warriors

Tries: Matt Jensen, Lance Williams, Don Pati, Tonata Lauti, Lote Tu’ipulotu

Penalties: Kurt Morath (1/1)

Conversions: Kurt Morath (4/5)

Houston SaberCats

Tries: Osea Kolinisau, Josua Vici, Connor Murphy

Penalties: Sam Windsor (3/3)

Conversions: Sam Windsor (3/3)

Colton can be reached at colton@usmlr.com