Warriors Selects fall to Pathway 404

Atlanta — In their first away match of the 2020 Selects season, the Utah Warriors Selects fell to MLR rival Rugby ATL’s development team, Pathway 404, in a hard-fought match, 21-61.

Pathway 404 took an early lead in the match, putting up 40 points in the first half. Although the Selects didn’t let them go unanswered, penalties kept the young Selects team from capitalizing after 404’s initial scoring drive.

“This week we had some internal challenges and lost a practice,” said Brandon Sparks, Utah Warriors Director of Rugby. “Regardless, I’m proud of the guys. There’s a lot of youth and experience out there. We’re doing some things right, and that’s important.”

Pathway 404 opened up their scoring drive with an interception at the wing and a successful conversion. They continued their scoring run in the first half as their forward pack utilized their signature rolling mauls to set up their backline for another three tries, bringing the score to 26-0.

The Warriors Selects got into the game with a boot off the foot of hooker Mike Payne, setting up the Selects with their deepest down field position of the match up to that point. A series of pick-and-go plays allowed James Mocke to muscle the ball into the try zone, putting the Warriors first points on the board. After a few more 404 scoring drives, the score settled at 7-40 going into the half.

Payne was the leader of another strong drive for Utah going into the second half, and a well-timed tap-and-go by Danny Christensen set up Lance Williams for a try to bring the score to 14-54. Another try in the 80th minute by Mocke finished the game at 21-61.

Despite the challenges in Georgia, Sparks believes that the match will be a valuable learning experience and asset to the development of the Selects and the pathway program as a whole.

“[These pathway teams] offer a lot of exposure to a different level that these players are not used to, but it gives them the exposure they need,” Sparks said. “It’s going to give them that opportunity to play somewhere else, and give us the opportunity to see more talent.”

The Warriors return home next week to take on the Northeast Rugby Academy. The match will take place at Zions Bank Stadium, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. MDT. Tickets can be purchased here.

SCORING SUMMARY: Selects vs. Pathway 404 (Oct. 31, 2020)

2’ Pathway 404 5, 2

9’ Pathway 404 5, 2

16’ Pathway 404 5

26’ Pathway 404 5, 2

30’ Mocke 5, 2 (Selects)

35’ Pathway 404 5, 2

39’ Pathway 404 5, 2

Halftime Score: Selects — 7 Pathway 404 — 40

43’ Pathway 404 5, 2

51’ Pathway 404 5, 2

58’ Williams 5, 2 (Selects)

75’ Pathway 404 5, 2

80’ Mocke 5, 2 (Selects)

Final Score: Selects — 21 Pathway 404 — 61

Utah Warriors Selects Roster

1    Samuel Ciancutti

2    Mike Payne

3    Zephir Lambert

4    Kal Kistner

5    James Mocke

6    Thomas Tu’avao

7    Mike Gieselman

8    Charlie Hola

9    Danny Christensen

10    Tosh Wilcox

11    Joe Mano

12    Dominik Toluono

13    Peter Makalio

14    Logan Tago

15    James Vaifale

16    Sesili Taukiuvea

17    Dawson Rueger

18    Elijah Hayes

19    Lance Williams

20    Ty Goss

21    Jacob Klingelsmith

22    Aaron Wade

23    Tomasi Tonga