Thomas Tu’avao completed a season-high 29 tackles in this game, more than any other player in the 2023 season and the most tackles ever from a Utah Warriors player.

The San Diego Legion travel to Texas to face the Houston SaberCats at SaberCat Stadium.

The home side prevailed with a 31-26 victory in what would turn out to be the San Diego Legion’s only loss during the 2023 regular season, finishing with an historic 15-1 record. This game would be the 1, as they fell victom to the ‘Cats.

The Houston SaberCats host the Seattle Seawolves at AVEVA Stadium for the ‘Cats first ever Championship Series game.

The SaberCats found themselves catapulted into the #1 spot in the Western Conference following the controversial disqualification of the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis, #1 & #2 in the west respectively. They were able to sit back and watch as the Seawolves comfortably defeated the San Diego Legion in the Western Eliminator last week.

The home side got off to a fast start, with Davy Coetzer flyhacking a loose pass through and was able to finish effectively unopposed. He converted his own score to give the ‘Cats an early lead. The Seawolves got on the board through the boot of AJ Alatimu before an enormous penalty kick from Gerrie Labuschagne easily cleared the posts over 50m away. Undoubtedly spectacular, this would be the final score for the hosts in the first frame. 3 tries from the Seawolves in the latter 30 minutes of the first half carried the guests to a 10-25 lead.

The SaberCats started the second half similar to the first, with Labuschagne scoring quickly following an offensive lineout. Roughly 5 minutes later, Labushagne cut through the Seawolves line and drew the last defender before passing to Christian Dyer, who won’t get many easier finishes. These two quick tries put the hosts right back in it, now trailing 22-25. Unfortunately for Houston, fighting their way back into the game may have taken a toll, as the momentum began to swing back to Seattle at the 50 minute mark. Mzamo Majola finished a score from close range following a stolen lineout and great footwork from Ross Neal & Dan Kriel, before Neal scored one of his own minutes later, followed by Duncan Matthews scoring his 2nd minutes later again. Alatimu converted all three and it seemed that the three scores in 6 minutes broke the Houston spirit. Dyer would grab his 2nd for the ‘Cats in the 75th minute, but this was nothing more than a consolation try as the Seawolves emerged victorious by a score of 27-46.

With both Duncan Matthews and Christian Dyer scoring a brace in this game, it became the first playoff game in MLR history to feature multiple players scoring multiple tries!

The SaberCats’ 2022 ends here, while the Seawolves advance to their 3rd Championship Final in 5 years, and will face the winner of the Eastern Eliminator between the New England Free Jacks and Rugby New York.

 

The Houston SaberCats host state rivals the Austin Gilgronis for a turbulent game at SaberCats Stadium.

The Gilgronis had a bombshell drop just hours before this game, as Major League Rugby announced that the Austin Gilgronis had been disqualified from the 2022 MLR season for ‘a violation of league rules’. As a result, a number of Gilgronis players pulled out of the Austin lineup in an apparent response to MLR’s decision to disqualify the AGs. With the San Diego Legion on a bye, the Houston SaberCats were likely aware that they had all but secured a playoff spot.

Some of the frustrations may have added to the intra-state rivalry, with 3 cards being doled out at once including 2 reds (one per team). The Gilgronis did walk away with a bonus point victory in a 14-29 win in what is now the AGs final game of the 2022 season. The Gilgronis’ disqualification lifts their sister team the LA Giltinis into the #1 spot in the Western Conference, moving the Seattle Seawolves into a playoff slot.

This game would turn out to be the final game in the history of the Austin Elite/Herd/Gilgronis as the club was put up for sale following the disqualification, and were unable to find a buyer. The team effectively folded in October of 2022.

The Toronto Arrows head to the Lone Star State to face the Houston SaberCats at Aveva Stadium.

Despite being handed 2 yellow cards and 1 red, the SaberCats were able to record a comfortable 29-17 bonus point win over the Canadian outfit. The Arrows scored all 17 of their points in the last 15 minutes of the match.