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The Houston SaberCats opened their MLR season with a win this evening. Houston defeated none other than the two-time Major League Rugby (MLR) champions the Seattle Seawolves. Houston were 30-24 winners in a tight contest.
The early play was an indication of what was to come. Houston and Seattle battled-it-out back and forth, with both teams winning penalties. The first score went the way of the Seawolves. Seattle’s forwards attacked from a scrum. Second-rower Les Soloai touched down for his first try for Seattle. Eagles fly half Ben Cima added the conversion.
Sam Windsor scored Houston’s first points in response. The reliable fly half landed the first of two opening half penalties. Windsor’s third score of the match was a conversion. He converted a length of the field try. Houston won a turn over meters out from their own try line. Jinho Mun made a break and Zach Pangelinan finished it off.
Seattle responded to reclaim the lead at the break. Ryno Herbst burst over for Seattle’s second try. The sscore and Mat Turner’s conversion, made it a 14-13 advantage to the visitors at half-time.
It was also Turned who scored the first points of the second half. It gave Seattle a four point lead. Houston responded in time with a try.
The back-and-forth nature of the match had not yet concluded. Turner broke the defense from inside his own half. He passed to Aaron Matthews who was tackled within range of the try line. Seattle turned it into points in the following phase; Ross Neal went over for the try.
Matías Freyre struck back for Houston. The Argentine fullback cut through to score a 67th minute try. The conversion saw Houston taking the lead. Houston managed a late penalty to extend their lead.
With time up, Houston kicked into touch and celebrated opening their MLR season with a win over the Seattle Seawolves. It was Houston’s first ever win over the team from Washington state.
Houston remain at home for week two. The SaberCats will play host to the New England Free Jacks on Saturday, March 27. The Seattle Seawolves travel to Los Angeles to face the Giltinis on Sunday.
SCORING
HOUSTON 30
Tries – Z. Pangelinan (35’), P. Balekana (55’), M. Freyre (66’)
Cons – No kick 2 (35’, 55’), S. Windsor 1/1 (67’)
Pens – S. Windsor 3/4 (13’, 27’, 75’)
Yellow cards – A. Tauyavuca (30’)
SEATTLE 24
Tries – L. Soloai (11’), R. Herbst (40’), R. Neal (57’)
Cons – B. Cima 1/1 (12’), M. Turner 2/2 (40’, 58’)
Pens – M. Turner 1/1 (42’)
TEAMS
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo (17 Nicolás Solveyra 58’), 2 Diego Fortuny (16 Tiaan Erasmus 61’), 3 Charlie Connolly (18 Nikoloz Khatiashvili 52’), 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Van Stewart, 6 Apisai Tauyavuca, 7 Cecil Garber (20 Adriaan Booysen 62’), 8 Diego Magno, 9 Jinho Mun, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Zach Pangelinan (capt.) (22 Kieran Farmer 62’), 12 Taylor Howden, 13 Veramu Dikidikilati, 14 Paula Balekana, 15 Matías Freyre
Not used: 19 Bronson Teles, 21 Zachary Short, 23 Zack Godfrey
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (16 Kellen Gordon 61’), 2 Mike Shepherd (17 Louie Henson 68’), 3 Jake Ilnicki (18 Henry Hall 68’), 4 Les Soloai (19 Eric Duechle 46’), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Brad Tucker (20 Nakai Penny 56’), 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima (22 Shalom Suniula 32’), 11 Sitiveni Tamaivena, 12 George Barton (23 Kieran Joyce 64’), 13 Ross Neal, 14 Aaron Matthews (21 Devereaux Ferris 62’), 15 Mat Turner
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Assistants: Joey Swatzell (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
