Match Report: SaberCats vs. NOLA Gold

Fulltime
NOLA Gold -49
SaberCats – 11

By Liam Poach

SaberCat fans looking for an upset at Constellation Field on Sunday night were left disappointed, as the home team fell to the visiting NOLA Gold 49-11. New Orleans now sits firmly atop the league standings with 26 total points, while Houston has a total of 6.

The game started with promise, as the ‘Cats displayed their steadily improving ball retention and movement skills on their way to an early 6-0 lead. Sam Windsor was 2-for-2 on the night with penalty conversions.

However, the game’s eventual Man of the Match, Tristan Blewett, ended up scoring his first of three tries on the evening around the 19th minute, thus opening up the floodgates. From then on out, the SaberCats did not lead again.

Perhaps the most frustrating part in this season’s most recent defeat was that once again, this team’s immense potential would show itself in certain phases. When all was said and done, the ‘Cats ended the night controlling roughly 60% of total possession to go along with a 57% mark in territory.

Unfortunately, the team wasn’t able to get many answers despite knocking on the try-line door for what seemed like the whole second half. Josua Vici would score the team’s only try of the night at the 65th minute, but would eventually see his game end on a red card.

Each and every week, the ‘Cats seem as if they are on the verge of getting it all together. The speed, strength, and foundation are all there. Now, it’s just a matter of execution.