ATL fights back to beat Utah in MLR preseason opener

A late penalty goal from Bautista Ezcurra game Rugby ATL a 15-13 win over the Utah Warriors at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was the first competitive match of the Major League Rugby preseason that came almost a year to the day after the league was forced to suspend operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As expected both sides look rusty in the opening quarter. Defense dominated the early exchanges with several big hits coming in from both sides. Handling errors were prevalent on offense and a stiff wind behind Utah’s back kept ATL pinned in their end  for much of the first half.

The first try came shortly after the hydration break, but it would be credited to a single player. Instead the Utah scrum took the plaudits as the referee awarded a penalty try after ATL’s pack spun away under pressure at a 5-meter put-in. Danny Giannascoli added a penalty on the stroke of halftime to make it 10-nil to the home side at the intermission.

A second kick from Giannascoli’s impressive left boot came early in the second half. It came immediately after Zander van Schalkwyk was shown yellow for an intentional knock-on. The replacement winger had only been on the pitch for three minutes having replaced Te Rangatira Waitokia at the break.

The Ratlers did not have to wait until they were back at full strength to score. With the wind now on their side, they moved down the field and Jeremy Misailegalu crossed from close range. Utah’s defense were slow getting back to a tackle leaving a gap for the outside center to exploit. Ezcurra’s routine conversion was remarkably charged down by a defiant Mike Te’o to leave the score 13-5.

ATL’s scrum was under considerable pressure from Eagles starter Paul Mullen but it was a shoulder charge that landed Chance Wenglewski in the bin. The front row shuffle saw Jonas Petrakopoulos switching to loosehead prop and Alex Maughan at tighthead as Neethling Gericke came in at hooker. They would hold on just enough to clear their lines.

The final minutes belonged to the visitors. Johan Momsen wrestled through two defenders to score ATL’s second try. Ezcurra was on target with the extras, and then a penalty just beyond the 10-meter line gave the Argentina international his game-winning opportunity.

Utah do not have a second preseason match scheduled before their regular season opener at Austin on March 20. ATL will host Old Glory next Saturday, March 13. at Lupo Family Field.

 

SCORING

UTAH 13
Tries – Penalty try (21’)
Pens – D. Giannascoli 2/2 (40′, 44’)

ATL 15
Tries – J. Misailegalu (46’), J. Momsen (70’)
Cons – B. Ezcurra 1/2 (71’)
Pens – B. Ezcurra 1/1 (75’)
Yellow cards – Z. van Schalkwyk (43’), C. Wenglewski (58’)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Alex Tucci 77’), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 60’), 4 Aston Fortuin, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Mike Gieselman 55’), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams (19 James Mocke 72’), 9 Michael Baska (21 Fraser Hurst 66’), 10 Danny Giannascoli (22 Hagen Schulte 66’), 11 Joseph Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o

Not used: 16 Elijah Hayes, 23 Logan Tago

RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan (16 Neethling Gericke 68’), 3 Jonas Petrakopoulos (17 Will Burke 68’), 4 Marno Redelinghuys (18 Lincoln Sii 77’), 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.) (19 Vili Helu 71’), 8 Jason Damm (20 Ross Deacon 65’), 9 Rowan Gouws (21 Ryan Rees 66’), 10 Robbie Petzer (23 Duncan van Schalkwyk 68’), 11 Harley Davidson (16 Neethling Gericke 58’-68’), 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia (22 Zander van Schalkwyk HT), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Martini Talapusi

 

Attendance: 880