ATL defeats Utah as both secure playoff spots

Rugby ATL earned a convincing 41-31 win over Utah at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday evening. The result effectively guarantees the Ratlers home field advantage in the Eastern Conference Final, while the Warriors also booked their spot in the postseason despite the loss.

It was the Ratlers who scored first. Utah were struggling to handle ATL’s attack and soon found themselves in the shadow of their own goalposts. After a few phases Marko Janse van Rensburg punched in under the sticks for an automatic seven.

Utah’s defense out wide was found wanting as two quick passes from a scrum put Austin White through a gap. He made it through to the 5-meter line and after one quick recycle Johan Momsen came screaming into a short pass from Robbie Petzer to crash over for the try.

Marno Redelinghuys was fortunate not to see yellow after tackling an airborne Hagen Schulte. ATL paid for the indiscretion anyway. Three hit-ups tied in the defense and Danny Christensen slipped through a gap on the post to score.

A backhanded offload from Bautista Ezcurra sent Ryan Nell free down the right tramlines. The captain was stopped short but the Ratlers were there en masse and Ezcurra’s wide pass to the left found Vili Helu, who weaved his way between three defenders to ground the ball.

The bonus point was secured early in the second half. Utah gave away a penalty in their own half, and soon after Ross Deacon muscled over beside the uprights with Petzer adding the routine conversion.

Sama Malolo injected some much-needed energy upon entry and it was the replacement hooker who would bring Utah back into the game. After finding Bailey Wilson in the lineout, Malolo peeled off the back of the maul and powered over for five. Schulte sliced the kick attempt past the left upright.

Within seconds, however, the score was erased. Utah made a hash of the restart and the ball bounced off the turf directly to Momsen for an easy run-in. Kurt Coleman knocked over the routine conversion.

Malolo grabbed a double at the back of a lineout drive, but yet another ATL score followed. Ezcurra somehow regathered Coleman’s chip ahead, which was followed by a switch play from Gouws to Waitokia. A huge pass wide left found a wide open Austin White for the easy finish.

The bonus point – and with it Utah’s spot in the Semi Final – was secured in the dying minutes. Cliven Loubser picked off a loose pass from Waitokia and sprinted 75 meters downfield before being caught by Coleman. A few phases later and Malolo was in under the posts for his hat trick.

Coleman slotted a penalty for good measure but the final say went to the Warriors. Logan Tago broke up the middle, then Mike Gieselman cleaned up a loose ball to keep the move alive. Christen again found space on the fringe and sped home from the 22 meter line.

The Warriors will have one last home game next Saturday as they welcome the LA Giltinis in a preview of the Western Conference Final. ATL head to New England on Sunday with no pressure and will await the result of NOLA’s game against New York on Saturday to learn their opponent in the East Final.

 

SCORING

UTAH 31
Tries – D. Christensen 2 (24′, 80′), S. Malolo 3 (50′, 57′, 74′)
Cons – H. Schulte 2/4 (25′, 58′), No kick (74′)

ATL 41
Tries – M. Janse van Rensburg (6′), J. Momsen 2 (19′, 52′), V. Helu (29′), R. Deacon (42′), A. White (68′)
Cons – No kick (6′), B. Ezcurra 0/2, R. Petzer 1/1 (43′), K. Coleman 2/2 (52′, 69′)
Pens – K. Coleman 1/1 (78′)

 

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Alex Tucci 72′), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto (16 Sama Malolo 46′), 3 Angus MacLellan (18 Olive Kilifi 59′), 4 Aston Fortuin, 5 Matt Jensen (19 Saia Uhila 52′), 6 Lance Williams (20 Thomas Tu’avao 62′), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.) (21 Mike Gieselman 72′), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Cliven Loubser (23 John Powers 79′), 11 James Vaifale, 12 Tyler Fisher, 13 Josh Whippy (22 Logan Tago 72′), 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Hagen Schulte

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos 62′), 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg (16 Neethling Gericke 52′), 3 Wikus Groenewald (18 Manasa Saulo 57′), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Connor Cook (19 Daemon Torres 75′), 8 Jason Damm (20 Ross Deacon HT), 9 Rowan Gouws (22 Duncan van Schalkwyk 72′), 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 12 Robbie Petzer (23 Kurt Coleman 52′), 13 Ryan Nell (capt.) (21 Sean Coughlan 75′), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Austin White

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Niku Kruger (USA)

 

Attendance: 4,500