MLR WEEK 14 WRAP-UP

Austin Elite Rugby 17 – 35 Utah Warriors

The Utah Warriors snapped a seven-game losing streak on Saturday night when they defeated visiting Austin Elite Rugby 35-17.

The Warriors (2-8-1) used a five-try performance to defeat Austin (0-11) and snap a skid that included three matches that were decided by three points or less. After getting the scoring started with a try in just the second minute of the match, Fetu’u Vainikolo put the cap on the victory with another try in the 77th minute. Both Vainikolo and inside center Tim O’Malley scored 10 points to help the Warriors secure the victory. Austin received tries from Juan Echeverria, Andres Vilaseca and Rikus Zwart in the loss.

Utah secured five points in the victory to give them 16 points in the league table. They jumped the Houston SaberCats to take seventh place. Austin didn’t pick up any points in the loss and remain in ninth place with four points on the season.

Austin will look to pick up their first win of the season on Saturday, May 4 when they travel to Louisiana to take on the second place NOLA Gold (8-3). Utah will carry their momentum with them into Infinity Park to take on the Glendale Raptors (6-4-2) on Saturday evening.

Seattle Seawolves 7 – 29 Toronto Arrows

The Toronto Arrows picked up a statement win on Sunday afternoon by defeating the visiting Seattle Seawolves 29-7.

The Arrows (6-5) were in control of the defending champion Seawolves (8-4) from whistle to whistle. After jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first half, the Arrows were able to keep the lid on the explosive Seawolves offense. Toronto’s 21-point second half slammed the door on a comeback and secured their second straight victory. Arrows’ fly-half Sam Malcolm led all scorers in the match with nine points. Inside center Shalom Suniula scored the Seawolves only try in the loss.

Toronto picked up five points in the victory and now sit at 34 points on the season. They sit just three points behind the fifth-place Glendale Raptors and just four points behind Ruby United New York for the final playoff spot with five matches to play. The Seawolves didn’t pick up any points in the loss. Their 41 points place them third in the league table. They are four points behind the second place Gold and five points behind the first place San Diego Legion.

The Arrows will attempt to extend their win streak on Sunday, May 5 when they welcome the league-leading San Diego Legion (9-2-1) to town while the Seawolves will enjoy a week off before taking on Rugby United New York (8-3) at MCU Park on Saturday, May 11.

San Diego Legion 40 – 19 Houston SaberCats

The San Diego Legion closed out Week 14 of the MLR season with a 40-19 road victory over the Houston SaberCats on Sunday evening.

San Diego (9-2) took an early 7-0 lead over the SaberCats (2-9) on Sunday evening, but Houston was able to tie it up heading into the 20-minute hydration break. It was all San Diego after the break. The Legion tacked on three more tries in the first half alone and finished the match with six total tries. Legion fly-half Joe Pietersen nailed all four of his conversions to lead all scorers with eight points in the match. Houston received tries from Deion Mikesell, Thretton Palamo and Charlie Connolly.

The Legion moved into first place with the five points they picked up in the victory. Their 46 points on the season give them a one-point lead over NOLA Gold. Houston didn’t pick up any points in the loss and fell down to eighth place in the table. They have 11 points on the season.

Houston will look to get back in the column on Sunday, May 5 when they travel to the Big Apple to take on Rugby United New York (8-3) while San Diego will attempt to extend their win streak to six games when they travel up north to take on the Toronto Arrows (6-5) on Sunday afternoon.

Rugby United New York 16 – 20 Glendale Raptors

Read more about the Glendale Raptors victory over Rugby United New York here.