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Fans who braved some inclement Seattle weather on Saturday night were treated to a thrilling contest that saw the Seawolves defeat the Free Jacks 44-29 to earn their first win of the season. Kickoff was delayed by 30 minutes due to lightning amidst the sleet falling from the sky.
When the opening whistle finally rang it was the Free Jacks who responded quickest. With Seattle pinned in their own end, Sean McNulty’s angled run took him through the line. He was hauled down just short but Donald Brighouse was on McNulty’s shoulder to take the offload in for the opening score. Timothée Guillimin added the extras to make it a full seven.
A second try came from a turnover. Quick hands put Sam Beard through a gap. He connected with Poasa Waqanibau on his outside, who in turn found Danny Collins back on the inside for a runaway score. Guillimin was again on target with the conversion and New England were 14 points to the good.
Seattle finally found their groove just ahead of the hydration break. Ben Cima hit Mat Turner in space with a flat ball and simple hands gave Peter Tiberio a chance to finish in the corner which he did with aplomb. Cima’s kick rang true and it was a one-score game.
The celebrations were short-lived. New England immediately put the Seawolves back on their heels. Guillimin missed a penalty attempt but Naulia Dawai made a half break and was stopped just a couple meters short. On hand for the pick and spin was Josh Larsen, whose arms stretched out to ground the ball for a third Free Jacks try.
After a brief discussion under the posts, the Seawolves rolled up their sleeves. Storming runs from Siti Tamaivena and Eric Duechle won field position and JP Smith tore away from a ruck, making it clean through the line for a vital score.
Just a couple minutes later it was another cracker as Nakai Penny showed his pace, bursting through a half-gap to score under the posts. Cima’s third conversion gave Seattle the lead for the first time as the teams headed in for halftime.
The Seawolves came out like a house on fire and soon after the restart Smith was in for his second, selling a dummy at the back of a maul. Poasa Waqanibau was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle on Tiberio, and Cima tacked on three more for Seattle.
John Poland created something out of nothing with a cheeky chip kick that bounced perfectly for the speedy scrumhalf, who raced into the corner for five. Guillimin couldn’t hit the conversion but the Free Jacks were back within touching distance.
Cima responded with a kick but again New England did not relent. The won a penalty and opted for the corner, with replacement hooker Steven Hinshaw grabbing his first try as a professional when the maul went over. The score was now 34-29 to set up a grandstand finish.
A third penalty for Cima slipped Seattle out of reach and then Penny equaled Smith’s double in similar fashion to his first to put the wraps on an emphatic victory. Cima was on target with the final conversion for a perfect night and 19 points from the tee.
With confidence restored, the Seawolves will host the Utah Warriors at Starfire Stadium next Saturday. Earlier that day the Free Jacks will take to the field opposite the Gold in New Orleans.
SCORING
SEATTLE 44
Tries – P. Tiberio (21′), J. Smith 2 (35′, 43′), N. Penny 2 (38′, 78′)
Cons – B. Cima 5/5 (22′, 36′, 39′, 44′, 79′)
Pens – B. Cima 3/3 (53′, 62′, 72′)
NEW ENGLAND 29
Tries – D. Brighouse (5′), D. Collins (16′), J. Larsen (28′), J. Poland (56′), S. Hinshaw (68′)
Cons – T. Guillimin 2/5 (6′, 17′)
Pens – T. Guillimin 0/1
Yellow cards – P. Waqanibau (49′)
TEAMS
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Kellen Gordon 60′), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Mike Shepherd 60′), 3 Tim Metcher (18 John Hayden 60′), 4 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Taylor Krumrei 75′), 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Eric Duechle (20 Vili Toluta’u 60′), 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Peter Tiberio, 12 Shalom Suniula (22 George Barton 63′), 13 David Busby (23 Joey Iosefa 77′), 14 Siti Tamaivena (21 Brock Staller HT), 15 Mat Turner
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Simon Courcoul (17 Tolu Fahamokioa HT-72′), 2 Sean McNulty (16 Steven Hinshaw 62′), 3 Donald Brighouse (18 Quentin Newcomer 58′), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Conor Kindregan (19 Ronan McCusker 77′), 6 Brad Hemopo (20 Owen Hundt 51′), 7 Zack Stryffeler, 8 Naulia Dawai, 9 John Poland (21 Erik Thompson 79′), 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Deion Mikesell (22 Peceli Rinakama 69′), 12 Sam Beard, 13 Poasa Waqanibau, 14 Danny Collins, 15 Mitch Wilson (23 Ollie Engelhart 79′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) & Denny Russell (USA)
