Utah Warriors Host LA Giltinis In Final Regular Season Home Match of 2021

Jul 16, 2021, 5:08 PM

(Courtesy of Utah Warriors)

KSL Sports

HERRIMAN, Utah – The Utah Warriors are home this Saturday, July 17, to take on the LA Giltinis at Zions Bank Stadium in the final regular season match of the 2021 season.

Saturday’s match will mark the second time that Utah and Los Angeles have faced off, with LA holding the series lead 1-0 following a victory at SoFi Stadium earlier this season.

Coming off a 31-17 victory in Week 17, Los Angeles enters the game with a 12-3 record as the Giltinis currently sit atop Major League Rugby’s Western Division with 61 table points, most of any team in the MLR.

“LA is a very good attacking team that has a ton a variety,” said Warriors Head Coach Shawn Pittman. “This match will stress us on defense and will test us on both sides of the ball as we get set to begin the playoffs.”

How we'll take the field for the last regular-season home match 🍿

⚔️ LA Giltinis
📆 Saturday, July 17
🕗 6:00 PM MT
📍 Herriman, UT
🏟️ Zions Bank Stadium
📺 CBS Sports Network
📻 ESPN 700 & ESPN 960 #ForTheNation // #usmlr // #UTAHvLA pic.twitter.com/X8rttigNB6

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) July 16, 2021

The Warriors enter the match locked-in in second-place in MLR’s Western Conference after clinching a berth in the Major League Rugby Playoffs in last week’s match vs. Rugby ATL. The Warriors enter this weekend’s match with a 9-6 record and 52 table points.

This week’s match will give fans an early glimpse at the MLR’s Western Conference Finals, which will feature the Giltinis and Warriors on July 25. Utah Warriors Assistant Coach Shaun Davies believes the match will pose an interesting challenge as the Warriors hope to set the tone for next week’s playoff match without giving away their gameplan.

“It is difficult playing LA two weeks in a row,” said Davies. “Both teams will want to win the first game without showing too much to the opposition. This week we want to continue to build good habits. We were upset with the work-rate from the guys against Atlanta last week, so if we’re able to build on our work-rate and clean up other aspects of our game, like the breakdown, we can put ourselves in a good position going into the playoffs.”

Davies hopes the Warriors attack can continue to build on their success this season, as one of the league’s top offenses has scored four or more tries in six consecutive matches.

One more ride before playoffs 👀#ForTheNation // @usmlr pic.twitter.com/MDrhJEfKFf

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) July 16, 2021

“In attack, we want to hold onto the ball as much as possible this week,” said Davies. “We know LA is a team that wants ball-in-hand and wants to be attacking. If we’re able to limit the amount of ball they have and can be successful in our ball possession, we will put ourselves in a good spot.”

The Warriors, led by co-captains Mikey Te’o and Bailey Wilson, are hoping to end the regular season on a high note in front of their home fans this weekend.

“This is the last home game of the regular season and we want to put on a good showing for our supporters at Zions Bank Stadium,” said Pittman. “Hopefully we can do just that with the style of rugby we play and provide these fans a lasting impression headed into the playoffs and the offseason.”

W Nation Ep 26 | Playoff Bound https://t.co/QMsZT8sq3C

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) July 15, 2021

This weekend’s match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network starting at 6:00 PM local time. Jarom Jordan and Jared “Banksy” Danielson will call the match on 700 AM and 960 AM radio.