Seawolves smash Gold to go Top of the Table

The Seattle Seawolves moved to the top of the Major League Rugby table on Sunday with a crushing 55-26 win over the New Orleans Gold. Three tries within 10 minutes of kickoff set the tone and but for a brief purple patch on either side of the break, the Seawolves were in total control.

Before the fans had even taken their seats Brock Staller had scored 14 points himself. The Canadian winger finished off two attacking moves and converted both as the Gold looked stunned. They had nowhere to turn as the barrage continued with Eric Duechle blasting through three tacklers on a line break to score a third seven-pointer.

Handling errors from Seattle handed the ball to New Orleans and their forwards took it upon themselves to manufacture a score. After a couple cracks at the line Ben Tarr was driven over with Taylor Howden adding the extras much to the relief of Gold supporters.

Brief smiles would be erased just moments later as Staller sent over a penalty goal and then Mat Turner struck for the bonus point try from the restart. A mismatch on the short side saw the England Sevens international step past the front row and speed clear away from the cover to touch down under the sticks.

New Orleans finally got some momentum just before the half again through their forwards. A rolling maul was held up but Staller was spotted entering from the side earning him a trip to the sin bin and handing a penalty try to the Gold. Moni Tonga’uiha would go over immediately after with Howden’s conversion summoning the half-time whistle.

Still enjoying a man advantage the Gold went back to work following the intermission and Michael Baska went over in acres of space after the forwards had done the hard yards to drag in the defense. With the score now just 31-26 it looked as though New Orleans were back in business.

Unfortunately for them that’s where their story would end. Will Holder stepped up to slot a penalty goal just as Staller was returning to the pitch and back at full strength the Seawolves turned up the heat. Aladdin Schirmer slipped over from the back of a maul and then the replacements proved their worth. Nakai Penny sent Dan Trierweiler over with a pop off the deck, and Mozac Samson fended off one before offloading to Turner for his second.

Seattle will end their regular season campaign with a three-game road trip starting in Houston next Saturday. New Orleans head home to search for answers and will have to find them quickly as the unbeaten Glendale Raptors come to town on Sunday.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 55
Tries – B. Staller 2 (1’, 5’), E. Duechle (10’), M. Turner 2 (21’, 78’), A. Schirmer (54’), D. Trierweiler (68’)
Cons – B. Staller 6/6 (2’, 6’, 11’, 22’, 69’, 79’), W. Holder 1/1 (55’)
Pens – B. Staller 1/2 (19’), W. Holder 1/1 (46’)
Yellow cards – B. Staller (36’)

NEW ORLEANS 26
Tries – B. Tarr (16’), Penalty try (37’), M. Tonga’uiha (39’), M. Baska (43’)
Cons – T. Howden 2/3 (17’, 40’)
Pens – T. Howden 0/1

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Kellen Gordon 47’), 2 Ray Barkwill (16 Dan Trierweiler 66’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 John Hayden 56’), 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Jérémy Lenaerts (20 Nakai Penny 52’), 6 Eric Duechle (21 Andre Coquillard 72’), 7 Vili Toluta’u (19 Cole van Harn 69’), 8 Aladdin Schirmer, 9 Phil Mack, 10 Will Holder, 11 Peter Tiberio (23 Sequoyah Burke-Combs 69’), 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 William Rasileka (22 Mozac Samson 66’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

NEW ORLEANS GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens (18 Derrek van Klein 56’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Alec Janotka 74’), 3 Ben Tarr (17 Cam Falcon 56’), 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 John Sullivan (20 Myles McQuone 69’), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Matt Hughston, 8 Chad Joseph (19 Matt Wirken 69’), 9 Holden Yungert (22 Vita Makasini 69’), 10 Peceli Rinakama (21 Brennan Falcon 56’), 11 Joeli Tikoisuva, 12 Taylor Howden (capt.), 13 Zack Stryffeler (23 Bobby Johns 4’), 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Michael Baska

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Assistants: Adam Leal (RFU) & Michelle O’Brien (USAR)