Seawolves strike Gold in MLR classic

The Seattle faithful were treated to an instant classic at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening as the Seawolves edged the NOLA Gold 25-24. Despite being outscored four tries to one, the home side got the win thanks to the unerring boot of Brock Staller. The leading scorer in Major League Rugby would end with a perfect 7-from-7 from the tee for a 20 point haul.

From the opening kickoff the game had an intensity unmatched by the three games that preceded it this weekend. NOLA entered ranked 1st overall with Seattle, the defending champions, distinctly behind in 2nd but a team on the rise. The fierce contest reflected that with several thunderous hits from both sides setting the tone early.

It was all zeros on the board until Staller landed his first kick head ahead of the hydration break. With the deadlock broken New Orleans were next to strike. Penalties gave the Gold an attacking lineout that Kyle Baillie won clean. His captain Eric Howard peeled away from the maul and was unstoppable from short range to grab a converted try.

Seattle would do all the scoring from there to the break. As their skipper, Shalom Suniula, left the field dazed, Staller landed his second kick from straight in front to claw one back. NOLA did not lie down willingly, however, and nearly hit back soon after.

Moni Tonga’uiha came painfully close to scoring but the Gold flanker knocked on with the line in arm’s reach. Instead the Seattle scrum flexed its muscles and won a another three points via Staller, this time a long-range effort from a tricky angle. It was the scrum again with the Canadian obliging with his fourth kick of the half to bring on the intermission.

The Seawolves pushed further ahead early in the second half. Sequoyah Burke-Combs broke the line and a couple phases later Dion Crowder looked to have made the line but it was ruled held up in a desperate tackle attempt from JP Eloff. There was no escape from the scrum, however, and Riekert Hattingh needed only to fall over the line after the tight five did the hard work.

With the score now 19-7, New Orleans needed to score next and they did. The ‘Seawall’ held strong until Cam Dolan’s offload put Tim Maupin through down the right sideline. He popped back inside to Tristan Blewett, who in turn found Con Foley on his inside for a superb 60-meter team try.

The gap nearly closed entirely just a few minutes later. More crisp passing nearly put Eloff through but he was scragged just short by Brad Tucker. Blewett was there to take the pop off the deck, however, and dive over the line for another try. Playing on a heavily-taped ankle, Eloff couldn’t land the extras but it was now 19-17 and all to play for.

Staller kept his rhythm and nudged Seattle ahead just inside the final quarter with a 40 meter effort. His sixth penalty was be from much closer and NOLA were now short on time to salvage points.

A high tackle gave them a lineout platform and Kevin Sullivan had the strength to make it from a meter away for a bonus point try that also put them in touch for a losing bonus. They controlled the restart for one last assault but couldn’t get out of their end and a loose ball was hoofed into touch to bring the 3,750 in attendance to their feet.

The win isn’t enough to put Seattle to the top but they could get there if they can defeat the Arrows in Toronto on Sunday. NOLA will enjoy a well deserved week off before reconvening for their new ‘extra’ home match against Austin Elite on May 4.

SCORING

SEATTLE 25
Tries – R. Hattingh (47′)
Cons – B. Staller 1/1 (48′)
Pens – B. Staller 6/6 (20′, 28′, 34′, 40′, 62′, 77′)

NEW ORLEANS 24
Tries – E. Howard (24′), C. Foley (50′), T. Blewett (55′), K. Sullivan (78′)
Cons – J. Eloff 2/4 (25′, 79′)

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Kellen Gordon (18 Ryan Youngman 79′), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 67′), 3 Tim Metcher (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 52′), 4 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Taylor Krumrei 61′), 5 Apisai Naikatini (20 Eric Duechle 52′), 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 Phil Mack, 10 Ben Cima (21 JP Smith 56′), 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs, 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.) (22 Roland Suniula 27′), 13 George Barton (23 Dion Crowder HT), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

NOLA GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens (18 Kevin Sullivan 56′), 2 Eric Howard (capt.), 3 Matt Harmon (17 Cam Falcon 56′), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (19 John Sullivan 64′), 7 Nikola Bursic (20 Zack Stryffeler HT), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert (21 Michael Baska 64′), 10 Scott Gale (23 Nick Feakes 11′), 11 Tristan Blewett, 12 Con Foley, 13 Taylor Howden, 14 Tim Maupin (22 Joeli Tikoisuva 75′), 15 JP Eloff

Not used: 16 Kavika Peniata

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Assistants: Scott Green (USAR) & Brett Johnson (USAR)

Attendance: 3,750