Day: February 23, 2025

2025 – RD 2: Rugby FC LA v Houston SaberCats

Rugby FC LA continue their 2025-opening home stand by hosting the Houston SaberCats in a Western Conference clash at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Both LA and Houston are coming off losses in Round 1, and will be looking to bounce back in this one.

This is the 3rd meeting between these two sides, with the Houston SaberCats taking the season sweep in 2024. The last time these sides met was in Houston during Round 15 of 2024, with the SaberCats taking a 29-12 victory. Despite all the change to Rugby FC LA over the off-season, the margin of victory would remain at 17pts and, despite having home field advantage, LA would fall to 0-2 on the season, while the Houston SaberCats made up for last weeks defeat with a 28-45 bonus point victory in Round 2 against their Western Conference rivals.

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2025 – RD 2: Miami Sharks v NOLA Gold

After their calamitous defeat to Old Glory last week, the Miami Sharks host the NOLA Gold in an Eastern Conference Southern Showdown.

Fresh off their healthy victory last week, the NOLA Gold started stronger, with tries from Cooper Coats and Xavier Mignot giving them a healthy early lead before Martin Elias slotted a penalty to get Miami on the board and settle things down. 5 minutes later, Alex Tucci scored his 1st try for the Miami Sharks to bring the game back to 10-12 to the Gold. Both sides would exchange penalties and a late first-half drop goal attempt from Dorian Jones sailed wide, so 13-15 was the halftime score.

The second half started slow, with both sides probing the other’s defences, before the Miami Sharks found a breakthrough via Manu Ardao, who rumbled through defenders for an Auto-7pt try, followed up by a Ben Bonasso score just minutes later to give the Sharks a commanding 27-15 lead. The Gold would respond through Cooper Coats’ 2nd of the day before Elias added another penalty as well as a drop goal attempt that rang off the upright. Jones would add another 3 with 3 minutes to go and the score at 30-25, before more drama in Miami. The Sharks won a penalty and elected to take a shot at goal to burn the remaining time off the clock, but Elias took too long and the shot clock expired, handing the ball over to the Gold for one last kick at the can, knowing a converted try could steal the victory as it had done last week. Thankfully for the Sharks, there would be no repeat defeat.

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2025 – RD 2: Chicago Hounds v Utah Warriors

After sitting through a bye in Round 1, the Utah Warriors finally get their 2025 season underway on the road against the Chicago Hounds. The Hounds are fresh off an upset victory over the Houston SaberCats on the road, and now face another Western Conference opponent in the Warriors, who will be looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing 2024 where they missed the playoffs.

These sides have met three times prior to this game, with the Utah Warriors holding a 2-1 lead in this match up. The previous meeting between these two teams was in Round 2 of the 2024 season, when the Warriors came away as 29-15 winners at Zion’s Bank. Of note, This was the 100th game for Chicago Hounds hooker Dylan Fawsitt, who became the first player in Major League Rugby history to reach 100 appearances in the competition. Unfortunately for Fawsitt and the Hounds, the Utah Warriors caught them napping early in the game, with tries from Liam Coltman and Blake Makiri giving the Warriors a 0-14 lead within 7 minutes. Chicago would hit back with a Nate Augspurger try, but the Warriors would respond immediately with a Joe Mano score from a perfect crossfield kick from D’Angelo Leuila.

From the 15 minute mark, it seemed at though the Hounds had woken up. Tries from Mason Flesch and Dylan Fawsitt on his 100th MLR cap drew the game level for a 28-28 half time score, with both teams already locking up the try bonus point. Mitch Short would give the Warriors their first lead early in the 2nd half, before Charlie Abel was handed a controversial red card that halted Chicago’s momentum. The Warriors took advantage, scoring 2 tries while a man up, before sealing the deal with Joe Mano’s 2nd score right at the end. The Warriors get their 2025 season off to a perfect start, while the Hounds suffer a 2nd red card in as many games, and move to 1-1.

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