North American Rugby Database

Report

The Utah Warriors host the Houston SaberCats in a clash of two of Major League Rugby’s founding teams in the 2025 Western Conference Final!

The #1 team in the west during the regular season, the Utah Warriors survived a spirited comeback by the Seattle Seawolves to take a 23-21 victory in their Western Conference Semifinal, securing their first ever postseason victory. The Houston SaberCats, who finished 2nd in the west in the regular season, eventually recorded their first ever playoff victory as well . Emerging as 27-21 victors over a tough Rugby FC LA side after their game was delayed by a day due to inclement weather. That was the 4th playoff game in team history, and finally they manage a win, in front of a home crowd, too.

This is the first time these sides have met in the postseason. They have met 14 times in the past, with the SaberCats holding an 8-6 lead in the head-to-head series. The most recent meeting was a comfortable 40-19 victory for Houston back in Round 14. That was at SaberCats Stadium however. The Houston SaberCats have had the Utah Warrior’s number all season and unfortunately for the hosts, that stayed the case in this game. Almost straight away, the SaberCats were on the front foot. They opened the scoring after only 3 minutes through Andre Warner and the Warriors didn’t seem to have any response. Things got worse as Warriors Fullback Jordan Trainor was helped from the pitch 16 minutes in, but Utah veteran Lance Williams crossed for the Warriors’ first points of the afternoon. Joel Hodgson’s missed conversion meant that the SaberCats still led 5-7, and at this point there was some controversy. Utah looked sure to score another try through Joe Mano, but he was taken out by Houston winger Drake Davis about 5m out. On the replay, it looked like Davis had absolutely no intent to wrap, was upright, and made contact with Mano’s head, which would have been a clear red. However, TMO Derek Summers quickly ruled it a fair tackle, to the surprise of the commentary team and many watching. Following this and with 10 minutes to go until the break, Houston exploded. A score from AJ Alatimu extended their lead to 9, before Tautalatasi Tasi intercepted a Utah ball to go the length and stretch the lead to 16 with a half-time score of 5-21 to the visitors. Was that ‘non-call’ the defining moment of the match?

The 2nd half started similar to how the first ended. AJ Alatimu tried extending the lead with a penalty, but was unsuccessful. The Utah Warriors looked to be finding their rhythm in attack, but out of nowhere Drake Davis (who arguably should not have been on the field) read an interception well and ran the length for the SaberCats’ 2nd interception try of the afternoon. This visibly shattered the Warriors’ confidence, and nothing was going right for them. 10 minutes after Davis’ interception, the Houston forwards got to work and Seth Smith crossed from close range to give  Houston an almost insurmountable 5-33 lead with 15 minutes to play. The Warriors, to their credit, didn’t give up. In the 75th minute, Warrior #1 Paul Lasike smashed through a handful of Houston defenders for his first MLR try since 2023 in his final game of professional rugby, much to the delight of the home crowd. On the final play of the game, the SaberCats’ Marno Redelinghuys received a yellow card and Tu Vugakoto was able to cross for Utah’s 3rd of the game, but it was too little too late. The final score of 19-33 to Houston somewhat flatters a Utah side that were comprehensively beaten.

The Houston SaberCats claim their first ever Western Conference Title, and will face the New England Free Jacks for the 2025 MLR Shield next weekend in Rhode Island!