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
Photos: 8th Man Photography, Bigshots Snapshots. Article: Colton Strickler.
Recent Posts

Old Glory DC Names Marcelo Blanco as the First General Manager of Business Operations in Franchise History
WASHINGTON, DC (August 8, 2022) - Old Glory DC announces the hiring

Dallas Jackals Announce Steve Violetta as Team President
Dallas Jackals Name Veteran Sports Industry Leader Steve Violetta as Team President

Utah Warriors Appoint Greg Cooper as Head Coach
HERRIMAN, UT (July 20, 2022) – The Utah Warriors have hired Greg

Scott Mathie Named Coach of the Year
coach OF THE YEAR: scott mathie, new england free jacks In just

Seattle Seawolves’ Tavite Lopeti Receives MLR Rookie of the Year Award
rookie OF THE YEAR: tavite lopeti, seattle seawolves From the moment Tavite
Categories
- Austin Gilgronis
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Games
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- LA Giltinis
- League Announcements
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- Rugby United New York
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- August 2022 (2)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (15)
- September 2021 (11)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (67)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- December 2020 (14)
- November 2020 (7)
- October 2020 (13)
- September 2020 (13)
- August 2020 (11)
- July 2020 (17)
- June 2020 (14)
- May 2020 (8)
- April 2020 (3)
- March 2020 (24)
- February 2020 (42)
- January 2020 (13)
- December 2019 (7)
- November 2019 (7)
- October 2019 (9)
- September 2019 (7)
- August 2019 (5)
- July 2019 (11)
- June 2019 (51)
- May 2019 (75)
- April 2019 (88)
- March 2019 (78)
- February 2019 (76)
- January 2019 (51)
- December 2018 (7)
- November 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (12)
- August 2018 (14)
- July 2018 (10)
- June 2018 (46)
- May 2018 (43)
- April 2018 (34)
- March 2018 (25)
- February 2018 (31)
- January 2018 (37)
- December 2017 (10)
- November 2017 (25)
- October 2017 (25)
- July 2017 (1)
- March 2017 (2)