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Report

The first game of the Western Conference in the 2024 season saw the Utah Warriors travel to Texas to face the SaberCats. Both teams finished with the same 10-6 record in 2023, but Utah missed out on the post-season while Houston did not. The Warriors won both 2023 match-ups in the growing rivalry.

The action didn’t take long to start, with a fearsome SaberCats maul bundling over to score just 4 minutes in, Ronan Murphy scoring for the first points and first try of 2024 for the ‘Cats. Despite Joel Hodgson slotting a pen for the Warriors’ first points of 2024, Houston dominated the first half and led 15-3 at the break. Utah managed to get back into the game thanks in part to a yellow card to Johan Momsen, allowing Spencer Jones to exploit a gap for the first Warriors’ try of the season, and the first try by a Canadian in 2024.

The Warriors were on top for much of the 2nd half but a beautiful Tautalatasi Tasi interception allowed Houston to extend their lead to 22-8. The ‘Cats continued to absorb the pressure but could not hold, with Bailey Wilson dotting down for another try and Hodgson nailing the conversion to bring the Warriors within 7 and secure the losing Bonus Point, final score 22-15 to the hosts.

Details

Date Time League Season
March 2, 2024 8:00 pm Major League Rugby MLR 2024

Results

TeamTriesConversionsPenalty KickTBLBPoints
SaberCats32/31/20022
Warriors21/21/10115

SaberCats

# Player Position T C P AC DG MG Tackles KS/KA Pts
1Ezekiel Lindenmuth 17Prop0000026900
2Pita Anae-Ah Sue 16Hooker00000211500
3Maks van Dyk 18Prop100006305
4Justin BassonLock0000052000
5Johan MomsenFlanker00000101300
6Marno RedelinghuysFlanker00000111700
7Keni Nasoqeqe 19Flanker0000033500
8Ronan Murphy 20Number 81000040505
9André Warner 21Scrum-half0000021500
10Davy CoetzerFly-half021002573/57
11Jeremy Misailegalu 22Center0000041500
12Dominic Akina 23Center0000055500
13Tautalatasi TasiCenter10000902205
14Christian DyerWing000003900
15Drew WildFullback0000051400
16Seth Smith 2Hooker000000300
17Valdemar Lee-Lo 1Prop000002500
18Pono Davis 3Prop0000071200
19Emmanuel Albert 7Lock000002900
20Asa Carter 8Flanker000000900
21Carlo de Nysschen 9Scrum-half000000200
22Max Schumacher 11Fly-half000000100
23Line Latu 12Fly-half000000200
 Total 321004491873/522

Warriors

# Player Position T C P AC DG MG Tackles KS/KA Pts
1Emerson Prior 17Prop000000300
2Nic Souchon 16Hooker0000014500
3Angus MacLellan 18Prop000000400
4Frank LochoreLock0000080900
5Louis Conradie 19Lock000007100
6Kalisi Moli 22Flanker0000024600
7Dylan NelFlanker0000082600
8Thomas Tu’avao 20Number 80000027600
9Zion GoingScrum-half0000014700
10Joel HodgsonFly-half011001392/35
11Mika KruseWing0000048100
12Paul Lasike 21Center00000431300
13Spencer JonesCenter1000058605
14Michael MansonWing0000041400
15Caleb MakeneFly-half0000080100
16Phil Bradford 2Hooker0000026100
17Franco van den Berg 1Prop0000016200
18Paul Mullen 3Prop0000016200
19Saia ‘Uhila 5Lock000009500
21Kieran McClea 12Scrum-half0000063000
20Onehunga Havili 8Lock000000000
22Bailey Wilson 6Flanker1000022705
23Robbie PoveyFly-half000000000
 Total 2110068398215

Officials

RefereeAssistant 1Assistant 2TMO
Robin KaluzniakPete PenderBlair McClureSaro Turner

Venue

SaberCats Stadium
Aveva Stadium, 12131, Kirby Drive, Houston, Harris County, Texas, 77045, United States