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The Seattle Seawolves claimed a vital bonus-point win over the San Diego Legion on Saturday to keep within striking distance of a playoff position. It was the visitors who outscored their hosts five tries to four, but the unerring boot of AJ Alatimu proved the difference in a nail-biting contest.
Joe Pietersen opened the scoring with an early penalty goal. The Seawolves hit back with a storming run from Samu Manoa taking them to within a couple meters of the line, but Dan Pryor disrupted an offload attempt and San Diego cleared their lines.
A probing kick from Pietersen was countered and another belting Manoa run put the Legion on the back foot. Seattle turned down a shot at the posts and the gamble paid off. After the forwards had sucked in the defense, Alatimu’s behind-the-back pass kept the move alive and Lauina Futi connected with Martin Iosefo to score in the corner. Alatimu’s sideline conversion was spot on to make it a full seven.
The two sides exchanged tries next. Seattle’s defense held under pressure but eventually conceded a penalty, and the lineout drive resulted in a try for Peter Malcolm. At the other end JP Smith sold a dummy and slipped through on the edge of a ruck to score. Pietersen couldn’t land San Diego’s extras but Alatimu was on target for the Seawolves.
There was still time for two more tries before halftime. The first went to Riekert Hattingh, who touched down in the corner after Duncan Matthews had looped around on a set move. Tim Metcher conceded a penalty at the restart and it proved costly as Ma’a Nonu took out three defenders to free Tomas Aoake. Again it was success from Alatimu on the conversion while Pietersen’s kick rang off the upright.
Nonu was penalised for a breakdown indiscretion early in the second half and marched another 10 meters for backchat. Alatimu chipped over the easy penalty goal and added a second soon after to make it 27-13 to the home side with a half-hour left on the clock.
Aoake grabbed a double on the end of a wide miss-pass from Pietersen, but for a third time the flyhalf couldn’t add the extra two. An offside infringement with the Seawolves knocking on the door landed Tevita Tameilau in the bin and the Seawolves pounced as Alatimu looped around to put Dan Kriel over for the bonus point try. Alatimu’s sixth successful kick looked to put the game out of reach but the Legion weren’t prepared to concede just yet.
Chris Robshaw went through the middle of a ruck to set up a seven-pointer for Chris Turori. Seattle were pinged for wasting time at a lineout, and Pietersen delivered a tremendous kick from his one 22 to the other to make it a San Diego throw-in. It would eventually yield a second try for Malcolm and this time the conversion was inch-perfect from Pietersen.
With the clock all but expired the Seawolves had a chance to ice the game with a three-pointer, but Alatimu instead opted for the lineout in an effort to deny San Diego a losing bonus point. After one attempt through the maul was rebuked they opted to kick the ball dead on a penalty to bring on full-time.
The Seawolves hit the road for a game against the Utah Warriors next Saturday. It’s an extra day’s rest for San Diego before their home game against Rugby ATL on Sunday.
SCORING
SEATTLE 34
Tries – M. Iosefo (20′), J. Smith (31′), R. Hattingh (38′), D. Kriel (62′)
Cons – A. Alatimu 4/4 (21′, 32′, 39′, 63′)
Pens – A. Alatimu 2/2 (44′, 49′)
SAN DIEGO 32
Tries – P. Malcolm 2 (27′, 75′), T. Aoake 2 (40’+2′, 53′), C. Turori (69′)
Cons – J. Pietersen 1/4 (76′), No kick (69′)
Pens – J. Pietersen 1/1 (3′)
YC – T. Tameilau (59′)
TEAMS
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher (18 Sam Matenga 55′), 4 Samu Manoa (22 Setefano Funaki 63′), 5 Rhyno Herbst (19 Victor Comptat 77′), 6 Ben Landry, 7 Andrew Durutalo (20 Travis Larsen 68′), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi (23 David Busby 70′), 15 Duncan Matthews
Not used: 16 Mike Brown, 17 Kellen Gordon, 21 Reid Watkins
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia (17 Joe Walsh 63′), 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Chris Baumann 41′), 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Rohan O’Regan (19 Chris Turori 63′), 6 Dan Pryor, 7 Michael Smith (20 Chris Robshaw 55′), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Joe Pietersen, 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.) (23 Ryan Matyas 63′), 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Bjorn Basson, 15 Matías Freyre
Not used: 16 Pat Lynott, 21 Nico Gilli, 22 Josh Thiel
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Brad Schwalger (Canada)
TMO: Shanda Assmus (Canada)
