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HERRIMAN — For a moment, the Utah Warriors seemed content to survive their home opener against a physical Chicago side and hold on for a win.
But in the closing minutes of the match, survival turned to ecstasy.
Jesse Hamilton scored a fourth try in the 80th minute, and flyhalf Joel Hodgson totaled 7 points on a penalty kick with two conversions to help the Utah Warriors to a 29-15 win over the Chicago Hounds in the club's home opener Saturday afternoon at Zions Bank Stadium.
Utah (1-1, 4 points) earned three points for the win and an extra for Hamilton's fourth try, which Hodgson set up with an open-field sprint off one of the Warriors' five turnovers won in the closing minutes before offloading to the second-year wing from San Bernardino, California, that set off celebrations around Zions Bank Stadium.
But give credit to Hodgson, who opened the door wide enough for Hamilton to barge through for his first professional try after playing 80 minutes with one start in 2023.
"He definitely kicked the door down for me," Hamilton said. "He told me what to do, and I told him back, if you tell me what to do then I will be. I was consistent with it. And that's literally how we build chemistry. I'm always going to support my man, and do that."
— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) March 9, 2024
Chicago jumped out to a 7-0 advantage just 90 seconds into the match. But Hodgson set up the equalizer in the 17th minute with a kick to Herriman High and Snow College graduate Sione Mahe on the wing that found Bailey Wilson.
The captain then offloaded to Zion Going, and Hodgson's conversion kick square the match at 7-7.
Saia Uhila gave Utah a 12-10 lead with a try in the middle of the pitch 37 minutes in, and Hodgson's conversion kick gave Utah a 14-10 advantage it held through halftime.
Zurabi Zhvania gave Chicago a 1-point edge in the 55th minute, dotting it down in the corner to move ahead 15-14. Phil Bradford scored off the maul in the 63rd minute to push the Warriors back in front, 21-15 and retake the lead for good in a game of attrition for both teams.
"I think Chicago is one of the most physical teams (in the league), but we were the more physically dominant team today," Warriors coach Greg Cooper said. "And yeah, we deserved that win."
— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) March 9, 2024
The Warriors pushed to the five-meter line looking for a fourth try — and the bonus point in the MLR standings that came with it — with three minutes to go. But a penalty in the area led Hodgson to opt for a conversion kick and go up, 24-15 before the English flyhalf found Hamilton for the crucial fourth try in transition.
"My family and friends were in the crowd," Hamilton said with a wide smile and a laugh. "There's no better place than Zions Bank Stadium. Getting that bonus point to set us up for later in the season — we can look back at this match say that's why we won the Shield in 2024."
The Warriors are back home next Saturday, March 16 against the Seattle Seawolves. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at Zions Bank Stadium.
