Utah Warriors Snap Six-Game Losing Skid With Upset Win Over Rugby ATL
May 7, 2022, 9:59 PM | Updated: Aug 29, 2022, 1:32 pm
(Photo courtesy of Davey Wilson)
(Photo courtesy of Davey Wilson)
HERRIMAN, Utah – The Utah Warriors last won a game on March 13 before they pulled off a big upset with a 44-26 win over Rugby ATL at home on Saturday.
Entering Saturday night’s contest, the Utah Warriors were playing the role of spoiler, while Rugby ATL was in second place in the Eastern Conference looking to lock up a playoff spot.
The Warriors appeared on the scoreboard first with a penalty kick in the fifth minute and took a 3-0 lead. Immediately after the kickoff, Rugby ATL snatched the ball from Utah and ran in for a try. ATL missed the conversion kick but still had a 5-3 advantage.
Utah bounced back with a try as they reached into the zone. They didn’t connect on the conversion kick but had an 8-5 lead in the 12th minute. Shortly after the score from Utah, Rugby ATL found the try zone once again and hit the conversion kick to take the lead back, 12-8 in the 17th minute.
Moments after the hydration break, Utah needed a group effort to retake the lead back. The conversion kick went through the uprights and had a 15-12 lead in the 25th minute.
The momentum stayed on Utah’s side in the 30th minute when they found the try zone once again. Utah missed the conversion but had their biggest lead of the game to that point, 20-12.
Rugby ATL was able to cut the deficit with a seven-point try below the uprights in the 34th minute. Utah’s lead was 20-19 approaching halftime. The Warriors extended their lead to 23-19 with a penalty kick in the 39th minute.
TRY! What a Maul from @UtWarriorsRugby and Williams
Tune in to #UTAHvATL now on @therugbynetwork pic.twitter.com/aSRZ7b5Tyk
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) May 8, 2022
One minute into the second half, the Warriors went into the try zone and nailed the conversion kick to take a 30-19 lead. The tries continued with Rugby ATL getting into the try zone. They made the conversion to trim the Warriors’ lead to 30-26.
After the hydration break, Utah had 20 minutes to hold off Rugby ATL and pull off the upset. They were able to get another try in the 60th minute. After the successful kick, the Warriors had a 37-26 lead.
In the final moments of the match, the Warriors found the try zone for one last time on Saturday.
The Warriors improved their record to 3-9 on the season. They will be on the road to face the Houston SaberCats on Saturday, May 14 at 6 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on KSLSports.com, the KSL Sports app and the KSL TV app.
