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McLean R. (10'), Anae P. (18', 48'), Schumacher M. (44')
Tries
Anstee T. (24'), MacDonald R. (38'), Houston B. (77')
Alatimu A. M. (19', 49')
Conversions
Lealiifano C. (25', 39'), MacDonald R. (78')
Akina D. (66')
Penalties
The game was heavily delayed due to what looked like a biblical storm in Houston. Game was moved to Monday due to safety concerns, and then further delayed again. The pitch looks to have taken a battering from the rain, so this could be a slippy affair.
Houston come into this having finished 2nd above RF LA in the Western Conference. LA have had a decent run of form stopped by a defeat last weekend. So, this could go either way, especially with the weather wanting to play its part too.
The first 10 minutes consisted of both teams trying to test out the field and see how it would hold up. There was a number of handling errors in the slippy conditions. The pitch already looks heavily cut up which will make it harder to play through the game, especially at scrum time where the pitch is getting torn up. Houston managed to get on top though and get awarded a scrum penalty in the LA 22. Kicked to the corner to set up for the lineout maul. LA managed to get the maul stopped but it’s not down to the forwards to run strong pods to keep the forward momentum. Houston worked across the pitch, then started coming back towards the posts. AJ Alatimu dropped back screaming for the ball, gathers the ball in front of the posts and drops a cross-field kick into Rufus Mclean in acres of space on the far side. Mclean gets closed down quickly but his aerial dive is on the money. 5 - 0 to Houston after 12 minutes. Alatimu has a difficult kick on the far touch line and can’t make the conversion.
LA manage to get a spell on top but the pitch and conditions stop their rhythm when ball in hand. They clearly want to play fast exciting rugby, but this pitch and weather are not letting them. Crucial handling errors at the wrong time thwarts their chances.
Then a slip in the back field gifts Houston plenty of territory and a line out in the LA half. Houston is loving the lineout throw over the top as they gather a ball and charge forwards. LA give away the penalty at the breakdown, Houston can kick for the corner for the 5-metre line out. LA can’t stop that driving maul though, Pita Anae-ah Sue just had to flop down over the line. Houston extends their lead 10 - 0 after 18 minutes. An easier conversion for Alatimu from the far side but he slots this down the centre. 19 minutes gone and its 12 - 0 to Houston.
LA have to get points on the board soon to get a handle on this game. They do start to get a string of penalties on their march towards the Houston Try line, they spend easily 3 minutes camped on the Houston line, but they can’t get over. The pick and go machine were in full flow but Houston defence was solid apart from the consistent penalties. Before the ref has to make a decision about a card, Tim Anstee manages to dive over having rolled a tackle to break the deadlock. 12 - 5 after 24 minutes. Lealiifano steps up for an easy conversion to slow down the middle. 12 - 7 after 25 minutes.
The penalty count and unforced errors littered the next period of the half; this would be an unreal game to watch if the weather wasn’t causing the issues, it is. LA are enjoying the better of this period though even though they aren’t gaining too many metres until Houston kept giving away penalties allowing LA into their 22. LA spilled the ball at the lineout, allowing Alatimu to kick clear. He could only get it to halfway where LA gathered it up. A cross-field kick finds McDonald in space, he steps 3 defenders and weaves himself to dive under next to the sticks. 39 minutes are gone after Lealiifano makes the conversion. LA are ahead 12 - 14 going into half time.
Houston now looks to get back on top with the home advantage after the restart. They get rewarded with a few penalties but their kicking for touch lets them down until Alatimu goes for the up and over the defensive line. McDonald is caught out by the bounce for LA, allowing Max Schumacher to slide over the line scoring his try after 44 minutes. Alatimu misses the conversion, so the score moves to 17 - 14.
Houston manages to keep control the game and opt for the aerial bombardment to try and force errors out of LA. It works with them winning a scrum close to the LA 10 metre line. They turn the screw and win the scrum penalty; they are kicking for the corner. On the 5-metre line they set up, line out maul was perfectly set up. Easily drove over and Anae is able to flop over for his second try tonight. Alatimu makes light work of that conversion taking the lead to 24 - 14 after 49 minutes.
We get another sustained period of errors, penalties and territory kicking. Plenty of scrums to enjoy in this time too, a proper forwards spell in this game. With the game swinging between the side for this period, if LA scored next it could open the game again. But the bounce of the ball kept going for Houston, managing to force LA back for a line out in their 22 in the 65th minute. As they cleared their lines with a kick over the top, Reece McDonald got his timing horrendously wrong colliding with Schumacher when he was in the air. Penalty awarded on the LA 10 metre line, but McDonald is extremely lucky to only give away a penalty. No card due to the slip in the weather conditions. Alatimu opts for the tee, he slots it down the middle with a low drive kick. Taking the full minute to take the kick allowed Houston to extend the lead to 27 - 14 with 14 minutes left.
LA start to bang on the door after the restart but the handling errors in this weather are still stemming the flow of this match. LA manage to finally get some luck at the scrum but can’t force themselves over the line whilst in the 22. However, LA got a lifeline when the Ref had enough of the constant flow of penalties and reached for the yellow. Michael Scott got sent to the bin for the consistent team infringements. 9 minutes remaining and Houston will have to see the game out with 14 men.
LA continue to make the mistake at the wrong time giving possession back to Houston. LA keep coming on the attack, wave after wave and coast to coast but they all end with an error. LA managed to get over the line but got held up in the 75th minute, brought back though for a penalty on the 5-metre line. Restart with the tap and go, Houston can’t avoid yet another penalty in defending their line but having been warned they lose another to the bin for the rest of the game. Marno Redelinghuys takes his seat as the SaberCats have to defend the last 4 minutes with 13 men. LA have the bit between their teeth, Ben Houston managed to dive over the ruck and score from close range. McDonald takes the easy conversion to bring the score to 27 - 21 in the 78th minute.
This could have easily gone either way, and Houston have given away 9 penalties in the second half. LA return the ball back to Houston 5 metre line from the restart, but the ball goes out of play. Houston just has to defend their own line out, ball gets spilled but Houston regather and kick the ball into touch with the clock in the red. Houston are on the way to the Conference final, LA will be wondering what could have been.
