Utah Warriors Stun Major League Rugby Champs Seattle Seawolves

Starfire Sports Stadium, Seattle WA – The Utah Warriors battle 10 minutes past regulation with a last second try to steal a win from the Seattle Seawolves, 33-31.

A potential match of the year thus far had the Utah Warriors and Seattle Seawolves battle back and forth at a rapid pace where the game was neck and neck right until the final whistle.

The Seawolves would force pressure early with a converted try at the 3’ from Tim Metcher. The Seawolves would take the lead 0-7. The Warriors came back and would threaten a try of their own as Josh Whippy would dive into the try area, but would knock the ball on. However the Warriors would come back to score at the 11’ as Ratu Vugakoto would rumble over the try line to tie the game 7-7 after Robbie Povey’s conversion.

The Seawolves answered with a 24’ converted try by Riekert Hattingh to give them the lead once again 7-14. The pace of the game would pick up from here with frenetic action from both sides. Pat Ravouvou made his Warriors’ debut tonight and brought the energy up immediately attacking the Seawolves’ backs and protecting the wing with stout defense. Ravouvou also threatened to tie the game at the 40’ with a chasedown kick, that would ultimately go into touch.

The Warriors came out strong in the second half with a Tyler Fisher converted try at the 43’ to tie the game 14-14. However a well placed kick into touch, deep in the Warriors’ territory ended with the Seawolves mauling in a try to put them back up 14-21.

Kalolo Tuiloma decided to dot down a try in the same fashion as the Warriors’ maul pushed in a try at the 52’ mark to tie the game back up 21-21.

The pace continued to heat up with both teams going deep into opponent territory, but not capitalizing on the field position and conceding penalties or turning the ball over instead. The Seawolves were finally able to put another ball down and take the lead again 21-28 at 59’ that would lead into the game’s final hydration break.

Stephan Coetzee would be sent off with a yellow card for the Seawolves with only a few minutes remaining, giving the Warriors a man advantage. The Warriors would capitalize a force the ref to call a penalty try during a scrum forcing another tie game. However the Warriors’ would commit a costly penalty deep into their territory and the Seawolves would have a shot at goal at would take the lead 28-31

Going 10 minutes past regulation, the Warriors’ showed discipline and heart going phase after phase and punching the ball forward. Tyler Fisher would finally smash the ball down and seal the win for the Warriors’ 33-31.

SCORING SUMMARY

0-7: 4’ Seattle (Metcher, Try; Cima, Conversion)

7-7: 11’ Utah (Vugakoto, Try; Povey, Conversion)

7-14: 24’ Seattle (Hattingh, Try; Cima, Conversion)

HALFTIME: Utah 7 Seattle 14

14-14: 43’ Utah (Fisher, Try; Povey, Conversion)

14-21: 49’ Seattle (Coetzee Try, Cima Conversion)

21-21: 52’ Utah (Tuiloma Try, Povey Conversion)

21-28: 60’ Seattle (Hattingh Try, Cima Conversion)

28-28: 76’ Utah (Penalty Try)

28-31: 79’ Seattle (Cima, Penalty Kick)

33-31: 89’ Utah (Fisher, Try)

FINAL SCORE: Utah 33 Seattle 31

UTAH WARRIORS TO FACE SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1. Franco Van Den Berg
2. Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto
3. Angus MacLellan
4. John Cullen (C)
5. Matt Jensen
6. Bailey Wilson
7. Arawa Elkington
8. Jurie Van Vuuren
9. Michael Baska
10. Robbie Povey
11. Josh Whippy
12. Calvin Whiting
13. Tyler Fisher
14. Gannon Moore (VC)
15. Vatemo Ravouvou

RESERVES
16. Sama Malolo
17. Huluholo Moungaloa
18. Kalolo Tuiloma
19. Saia Uhila
20. Puna Vuli
21. Dwayne Polataivao
22. Dom Toluono
23. Jared Whippy