SaberCats end season on high with win over Utah

Recap

Two teams would see their 2019 campaigns come to a close on Saturday evening as the Houston SaberCats took a 31-27 road win over the Utah Warriors. It capped a remarkable finish to the season for the SaberCats, who missed out on playoff contention but won their last four under interim head coach Paul Emerick. Utah finish the season with only two wins from 16 matches.

First strike went to the visitors, and there was no subtlety involved. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz took channel one ball at the scrum and peeled away to the right. The big eightman lowered his shoulder and plowed clean through two would-be tacklers with brutal efficiency.

Tim O’Malley replied with a penalty goal for Utah, but Houston would also claim the second try. The SaberCats scrum has been a point of difference all season and was again, earning a penalty and then a free kick. Connor Murphy went quick and two passes later Malacchi Esdale was free, wriggling out of O’Malley’s clutches to make the line.

Houston made it three tries almost immediately following the restart. An overthrow at the lineout gave away possession at halfway. After two phases made progress on the left, Zach Pangelinan looped around the outside on the right with the final pass putting Deion Mikesell clear down the sideline. The winger ruled around to make Sam Windsor’s third conversion a simple one.

The Warriors got one back through their lineout. Jeremy Leber hit his intended target this time, with Matt Jensen setting the lineout drive. Leber took his place at the back of the maul and though it was stopped short, he was close enough to reach out and dot he ball down for a seven pointer.

Some individual magic from Fetu’u Vainikolo sparked the first try of the second half. The Tongan flyer stepped and spun past five players on a counter-attack. He found Josh Reeves in close support, and then before the Brazil international could be pushed into touch he flung a behind-the-back offload to Johnny Ika for a sensational finish.

A line break from Ara Elkington directly off the kickoff set up another score. Leber took the support pass to continue the momentum, and then Vatemo Ravouvou – on debut – stepped back inside to make more territory. Lance Williams found a gap on the post and this time it was Reeves who took the speculative offload for another try, with O’Malley landing the extras to draw the scores level.

Utah pushed ahead for the first time with a long-range O’Malley penalty but the lead didn’t last long. Ara Elkington was binned for an overreaction and Houston took full advantage of the power play. Matt Trouville’s short pass on the gainline put Esdale through, and Osea Kolinisau was on hand to take the scoring pass into the corner. Windsor slotted the conversion to make it a four point game.

No further scoring would take place. The SaberCats won a kickable penalty in the 79th minute but rather than hand the easy three to Windsor, it was Trouville who stepped up in what would be the final act of his career, his retirement as a player now confirmed. This chapter would close without the three points but the win was secure, a far greater prize for the venerable veteran.

SCORING

UTAH 27
Tries – J. Leber (27’), J. Ika (43’), J. Reeves (47’)
Cons – T. O’Malley 3/3 (28’, 44’, 48’)
Pens – T. O’Malley 2/2 (13’, 61’)
Yellow cards – A. Elkington (64’)

HOUSTON 31
Tries – J. Fa’anana-Schultz (4’), M. Esdale (19’), D. Mikesell (21’), O. Kolinisau (65’)
Cons – S. Windsor 4/4 (5’, 20’, 22’, 66’)
Pens – S. Windsor 1/1 (35’), M. Trouville 0/1

TEAMS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (18 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 49’), 2 Jeremy Leber (17 Metai Tu’imoala 49’), 3 Angus MacLellan (16 Alex Tucci 66’), 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Ara Elkington (19 Arthur Bergo 74’), 8 John Cullen, 9 Johnny Ika, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo (22 Josh Anderson 62’), 12 Tim O’Malley (capt.), 13 Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 Nolan Tuamoheloa (21 Vatemo Ravouvou 32’), 15 James Semple

Not used: 20 Tom Kacor, 23 Joseph Nicholls

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Jamie Dever 49’), 2 Pat O’Toole (16 Amro Gouda 74’), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Charlie Connolly 53’), 4 Robert Meeson (20 Chris Parker 73’), 5 Matt Trouville (capt.), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber (19 Chad Joseph 58’), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (22 Chris Coyle 51’), 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Zach Pangelinan (21 Chris Saint 61’), 11 Deion Mikesell (23 Kelly Kolberg 39’), 12 Sam Windsor, 13 Josua Vici, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Osea Kolinisau