Smith steers Seattle to victory over ATL

A man-of-the-match performance from JP Smith led the Seattle Seawolves to a 28-22 victory over Rugby ATL at Starfire Stadium on Friday night. The South African scrumhalf scored one try himself and set up another for his captain as the 2022 Finalists made it two wins from two.

Jordan Chait predictably opened the scoring for the home side with a penalty goal six minutes in. The visitors went on the attack but twice they repelled by some stingy Seawolves defense. Finally they settled for three points via the boot of Rewita Biddle.

A mistake from Chait nearly cost Seattle a try. His chip attempt was charged down and Conner Mooneyham hacked ahead, the ball just barely beating the winger to the dead-ball line. On the other side of the hydration break Chait made up for it with his second three-pointer, while Biddle came up short on a long-range attempt.

ATL were on the front foot just inside Seattle territory when a loose pass from Duncan van Schalkwyk instead found the waiting hands of Smith. The Seawolves scrumhalf turned on the jets and won the race to the corner. Chait nailed the sideline conversion to make it 13-3 to the home side.

Discipline then cost Seattle when Rhyno Herbst was binned for a cynical tackle on an ATL quick tap. Just a few seconds later Johan Momsen powered over next to the upright, with Biddle tacking on the routine extras to close the cap to just three points at the break.

Herbst was still off the pitch when Chait landed his third penalty goal just a couple minutes into the second half. Once back to full strength, the ball was flung wide to Riekert Hattingh. The captain promptly broke a tackle and galloped 40 meters to score, with Chait again on target off the tee.

The visitors got back in the game via the driving maul. Jason Damm was the target for Tiaan Erasmus’ throw, and once the set was complete the drive spun left and the ATL hooker flopped over the line for the try. van Schalkwyk missed the conversion to leave it an 8-point game.

Chait recorded his first miss off the tee at 69 minutes, but a minute later Mason Pedersen broke free from a ruck. The big prop connected with James Malcolm, who in turn fed Smith. Two sidesteps and a short pass to Hattingh put the skipper in for a double. This time the kick from Chait rang off the left post.

An eventful end to the game saw another lineout drive yielding a try to Ben Strang. Biddle made good on the extras to make for a grandstand finish. Malcolm nearly scored after peeling off the back of a Seattle drive, but Ryan Rees got under the ball to save a bonus point for ATL and deny one for the Seawolves.

It’s the first road game of 2023 for Seattle next Friday when they square off against the Dallas Jackals in Arlington. ATL head back home for a classic southern derby against NOLA Gold on Saturday.

 

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 28
Tries (3) – J. Smith (35′), R. Hattingh 2 (52′, 70′)
Cons (2) – J. Chait 2/3 (36′, 53′)
Pens (3) – J. Chait 3/4 (6′, 24′, 42′)
YC (1) – R. Herbst (38′)

ATL 22
Tries (3) – J. Momsen (39′), T. Erasmus (58′), B. Strang (75′)
Cons (2) – R. Biddle 2/2 (40′, 76′), D. van Schalkwyk 0/1
Pens (1) – R. Biddle 1/2 (18′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Jake Turnbull 59′), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 James Malcolm 59′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Mason Pedersen 51′), 4 Ben Mitchell (19 Taylor Krumrei 71′), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Ben Landry (20 Nakai Penny 49′), 7 Charles Elton, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Jordan Chait, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Tavite Lopeti (22 AJ Alatimu 59′), 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Conner Mooneyham (23 Lauina Futi 61′), 15 Duncan Matthews

Not used: 21 Karl Keane

RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan (18 Will Burke 74′), 2 Tiaan Erasmus (16 Ben Strang 59′), 3 Wikus Groenewald (17 Jonas Petrakopoulos 59′), 4 Justin Basson (19 Nahuel Milán 62′), 5 Jordan Brown (21 Matt Heaton 67′), 6 Johan Momsen (capt.), 7 Daemon Torres (20 Ross Deacon 59′), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Rowan Gouws (22 Ryan Rees 61′), 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Jack Shaw, 12 George Barton (23 Martini Talapusi 51′), 13 Will Leonard, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Rewita Biddle

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Saro Turner (Canada) & Clint Lemkus (Canada)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)