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Against all odds the Seattle Seawolves are now headed to the playoffs after a shock 35-27 win over the LA Giltinis. Fans at the Memorial Coliseum watched the depleted visitors eliminate the San Diego Legion and any hope of LA hosting the Championship Final in one fell swoop.
Seattle were first on the board via the boot of AJ Alatimu, but there was a swift response from LA. Will Chambers made it close to the line after a lineout drive had been stalled. The ball came out to Billy Meakes who plowed straight through Alatimu and David Busby to touch down under the posts.
Luke Carty was shown a yellow card for a shoulder charge on Mzamo Majola and the Seawolves took advantage with two quick scores. After Alatimu knocked over three, Seattle pushed back into LA territory and a huge cutout pass from Alatimu put Lauina Futi in space for an acrobatic finish in the corner.
Harrison Goddard landed a three-pointer while Carty was still in the bin. Christian Poidevin then broke clean through the line, with Meakes the next to take it on but the center knocked-on as he grounded the ball an inch short of the line. Seattle couldn’t clear their lines, however, and when Carty returned he slotted a penalty to draw the scores level.
The Seawolves jumped back in front on a long-range solo effort from Martin Iosefo. Djustice Sears-Duru had stepped in at halfback and Iosefo read the play perfectly, snatching the ball from the air and spring home from 60 meters. Alatimu couldn’t convert but the visitors took their five-point lead into halftime.
LA came flying out of the gates in the second half. Nathan Den Hoedt busted through the middle of the line and then a wide flat pass from Meakes hit Cristian Rodriguez in stride for the winger to slide into the corner. Carty curled the conversion around from the left sideline to make it a full seven.
The visitors regrouped under the posts and parity followed until Seattle earned an attacking lineout. James Malcolm would score at the back of the maul, but the celebrations were cut short as LA struck back immediately. Ryan James came on as a replacement and with his first touch sliced through the line. Cyrille Cama crashed ahead, and then Charlie Abel’s outside-in angle took the burly prop over the line.
Cama found himself in trouble for a shoulder charge clear-out which earned him a yellow card. LA won a turnover and Hanco Germishuys tore away for what looked like a match-winning try, but the TMO waved it off for an infringement at the point of turnover.
Instead it was Seattle suddenly on the front foot and after several phases the ball came wide left where Duncan Matthews was waiting to dive in for the bonus-point try. Alatimu nailed the extras and the clock would run out on LA.
It’s straight back into the fire for the Seawolves, who will now take on the SaberCats in Houston next Sunday. The winner will travel to Los Angeles for the Western Conference Final on Saturday, June 18.
SCORING
LA 27
Tries – B. Meakes (6′), C. Rodriguez (41′), C. Abel (56′)
Cons – No kick (6′), L. Carty 3/3 (42′, 57′, 69′)
Pens – H. Goddard 1/1 (17′), L. Carty 1/1 (23′)
YC – L. Carty (9′), C. Cama (65′)
SEATTLE 35
Tries – L. Futi (13′), M. Iosefo (30′), J. Malcolm (54′), D. Matthews (74′)
Cons – A. Alatimu 3/4 (14′, 55′, 75′)
Pens – A. Alatimu 3/3 (4′, 10′, 61′)
TEAMS
LA GILTINIS
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Charlie Abel HT), 2 Andrew Tuala (16 Lindsey Stevens 46′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Fred Apulu 75′), 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Langilangi Haupeakui (20 Cyrille Cama 55′), 9 Harrison Goddard (21 Tas Smith 79′), 10 Luke Carty, 11 Cristian Rodriguez, 12 Billy Meakes (22 Luke Burton 71′), 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Will Chambers (23 Ryan James 55′), 15 Tom Mitchell
Not used: 19 Zach Bonte
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Dewald Donald 63′), 2 Sean McNulty (16 James Malcolm 35′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Taniela Tupou 59′), 4 Brad Tucker (20 Kellen Gordon 56′), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Tommy Clark, 7 Travis Larsen, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith (21 Reid Watkins 79′), 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 David Busby, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Lauina Futi (23 Cole Zarcone 61′), 15 Duncan Matthews
Not used: 19 Mike Brown, 22 Lopeti Aisea
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
TMO: Jack Gohl (Australia)
