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Three tries from Danny Christensen saw the Utah Warriors past the Dallas Jackals by a final score of 33-5 at Choctaw Stadium on Saturday evening. The home side were competitive in the first half but fell away to close out the second winless campaign in Major League Rugby history.
Dallas enjoyed a positive start to the game. After going through several phases Chris Pennell made it to within a meter of the line, and Carlo de Nysschen snuck in on the corner of a ruck for the try. Adriaan Carelse’s conversion attempt drifted wide of the posts.
Neither team could crack the scoreboard for half-an-hour until finally Utah moved into Dallas territory. Lance Williams was held up over the line but from the drop-out the Jackals were caught short-staffed out wide and Tyler Fisher’s inside pass put Danny Christensen in for five points. Connor Burns took on the kicking duties his conversion made it 7-5 to the visitors at halftime.
Christensen would make it a brace after a dozen minutes of stalemate to start the second half. Bailey Wilson stole a lineout and Joe Mano was freed down the left side. Mano was eventually hauled down but a couple phases later Caleb Makene took on the line himself, popping back inside to his halfback partner for a try under the sticks.
Within seconds of Christensen’s score the Warriors were in again. Thomas Tu’avao stepped through some lackadaisical defense and popped to a trailing Tyler Fisher for a clear run to the line. Again no conversion was required as the Jackals lamented the concession.
Mano was binned for a deliberate knock-on at the hour mark but Utah simply shrugged their shoulders and went about their business. From an attacking scrum Paul Lasike crashed ahead and it was Christensen again who was there to take the offload in under the posts for his hat trick.
Coleson Warner made it over the line late in the game but Lasike was pinged for obstruction on the play and the try was waved off. Utah would still have the last say. A grubber from Mikey Te’o was regathered by Jurie van Vuuren, who quickly passed to Mano for a runaway score to the corner. Warner missed the extras and whistle sounded ending the season for both teams.
SCORING
DALLAS 5
Tries – C. de Nysshen (5′)
Cons – A. Carelse 0/1
UTAH 33
Tries – D. Christensen 3 (35′, 53′, 63′), T. Fisher (54′), J. Mano (80′)
Cons – C. Burns 1/1 (36′), No kick 4 (53′, 54′, 63′), C. Warner 0/1
YC – J. Mano (59′)
TEAMS
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray (17 Ryan Bower 26′), 2 Dewald Kotze (16 Connor Robinson 63′), 3 Herman Agenbag (18 Alex Tucci 54′), 4 Bronson Teles, 5 Charlie Hola (20 Matthew Gash-Gilder 68′), 6 Conrado Roura, 7 Jack Paloucek, 8 Adriaan Booysen (19 Mike Matarazzo 53′), 9 Carlo de Nysschen (21 Tom Brusati 56′), 10 Adriaan Carelse (22 Chad London 68′), 11 Rodrick Waters, 12 Juan Pablo Aguirre, 13 Lui Sitama, 14 Kelly Kolberg (23 Campbell Johnstone 58′), 15 Chris Pennell (capt.)
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Emerson Prior 51′), 2 Chad Gough (capt.) (16 Tuvere Vugakoto 58′), 3 Elijah Hayes (18 Paul Mullen 26′-75′), 4 David Beach (20 Bailey Wilson HT), 5 Puna Vuli, 6 Saia Uhila (19 Thomas Tu’avao 51′), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Caleb Makene (21 Coleson Warner 70′), 11 Joe Mano, 12 Tyler Fisher, 13 Tomasi Tonga (22 Paul Lasike 54′), 14 Connor Burns (23 Siaosi Nauer 58′), 15 Mike Te’o
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Andrew Low (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
