Records fall as Seawolves scream past Jackals

The Seattle Seawolves rewrote the Major League Rugby record books with a 74-7 win over the Dallas Jackals on Sunday. Fans at Starfire Stadium witnessed the most points ever scored by a single team, the most ever tries scored by a single team at 11, and the largest margin of victory at 67 points.

It was a frantic start, with Dan Kriel crossing for a try with under a minute on the clock. Seattle rapid-fire attack overwhelmed the Dallas defense and the big center busted through a couple would-be tacklers to score. AJ Alatimu shanked the conversion but it was an ominous start for the visitors.

To their credit the Jackals responded. Conrado Roura beat several tacklers before being felled with an ankle tap. A knock-on handed a scrum to the Seawolves, but it disintegrated and Adrian Booysen grabbed the loose ball. He fended off one man before offloading to Carlo de Nysschen for the try. Chris Pennell added the extras to give Dallas an unlikely lead.

Three minutes later it was gone, and for good. Samu Manoa bobbled a throw-in but Andrew Durutalo was there to collect and wrestle through the tackle attempt of Booysen to score. Alatimu was on target this time, and added a penalty goal soon after.

Two Jackals made a hash of a kick ahead from Seattle and JP Smith hacked it on. The bounce was kind for Hattingh, who sprinted free for the try. Next it was Sam Matenga who crossed from close range, with Hattingh grabbing a double on the end of a long breakout sparked by Lauina Futi. At halftime the score stood 36-7 to the Seawolves.

Matenga had his brace early in the second half, beating three players to score. Ross Neal then gathered a cross-kick from Alatimu having only just replaced Martin Iosefo. A set move from a scrum sent Futi clear through the middle for try number seven.

Andrew Durutalo’s quick tap from a free kick set the next move in motion. Neal broke down the left wing and the ball was swung all the way to the right where Futi was waiting for his second.

Hattingh was sent for a 10-minute breather after a high tackle on Kurtis Werner. It made no difference as the shorthanded Seawolves pack drove over from a lineout with Sean McNulty taking the credit for the Seattle’s 10th try of the day.

With time winding down it looked as though the Jackals might have a consolation score in them. Rodrick Waters stepped and put Chris Pennell in space. The captain in turn fed to a speeding Asa Carter, but the young flanker fell for Neal’s cheeky call-out and through the ball away. Neal chipped ahead, with Duncan Matthews regathering and feeding back to Neal for the record-setting score.

Both teams are on the road next weekend. The Jackals travel north to face the Arrows in Toronto on Saturday. Seattle make the coast-to-coast trip to take on Rugby New York on Sunday.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 74
Tries – D. Kriel (1′), A. Durutalo (12′), R. Hattingh 2 (19′, 34′), S. Matenga 2 (31′, 43′), R. Neal 2 (45′, 76′), L. Futi 2 (49′, 56′), S. McNulty (62′)
Cons – A. Alatimu 8/11 (13′, 20′, 32′, 34′, 44′, 46′, 50′, 63′)
Pens – A. Alatimu 1/1 (17′)
YC – R. Hattingh (58′)

DALLAS 7
Tries – C. de Nysschen (8′)
Cons – C. Pennell 1/1 (9′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Kellen Gordon 63′), 2 James Malcolm (16 Sean McNulty 50′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Taniela Tupou 70′), 4 Samu Manoa (19 Brad Tucker 53′), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Andrew Durutalo (20 Tommy Clark 66′), 7 Setefano Funaki, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith (21 Reid Watkins 63′), 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo (23 Ross Neal 44′), 12 Tavite Lopeti (22 Lopeti Aisea 57′), 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews

DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower (17 Liam Murray 50′), 2 Matt Frings (16 Dewald Kotze 35′), 3 Herman Agenbag (18 Alex Tucci 63′), 4 Bronson Teles, 5 Charlie Hola (19 Campbell Robinson 61′), 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen (20 Asa Carter 61′), 9 Carlo de Nysschen (21 Kurtis Werner HT), 10 Tom Brusati, 11 Cael Hodgson (23 Aaron Gray 71′), 12 Chad London (22 Matoko Noudéhou 53′), 13 Campbell Johnstone, 14 Rodrick Waters, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Brett Johnson (USA)
TMO: Shanda Assmus (Canada)