Houston SaberCats eliminated by Dallas in rugby playoffs

The top-seeded SaberCats lost to Dallas for the first time this season, and the loss eliminated Houston from the Major League Rugby playoffs.

Dallas led for most of the 34-22 victory, which was sealed in the 76th minute with a try from Jackals scrum-half Juan-Dee Oliver.

Houston’s AJ Alatimu opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of play. In the ninth minute, Houston scored a try on a tough run that was ruled out for offside.

Dallas scored the first try and eventually took the lead in the 32nd minute on a try from second row Javon Camp-Villalovos, giving Dallas a lead that helped decide the outcome of the game. The Sabercats went into halftime down 20-15 with two tries, a penalty and a conversion goal.

In the 58th minute, Jackals’ versatile fullback Jason Tidwell scored a try after a turnover following a failed clearance attempt by Houston. Six minutes later, Houston responded when scrum-half Andre Warner scored a try with a well-passed ball through the Dallas defence. It was the SaberCats’ last attacking move after multiple threats.

Tomás Bekerman received the only yellow card of the match after a foul on Houston. He will therefore not be able to participate in the conference final on July 28.

Dallas took advantage of Houston’s many defensive lapses, and the game’s top scorer, Oliver, added a try to his four goals on a turnover to end the night. Dallas missed just two of its five conversion attempts.

The defeat marked the end of Heyneke Meyer’s tenure in Houston, with the team manager considering a return to South Africa.