Seattle cruises to bonus point win over Chicago

Seattle cruised to a 35-13 win over the Chicago Hounds at a sold-out Starfire Stadium on Saturday night. It’s the fourth straight victory for the Seawolves and puts them within striking distance of first overall San Diego with four weeks to play in the regular season.

The Hounds were first on the board via the boot of Luke Carty after the home side were caught offside six minutes into the match. A reply didn’t take long as JP Smith barged over after Mzamo Majola had crashed over the gainline to put the defense on the retreat.

Smith was nearly in again after a thunderous carry from Samu Manoa sent Maclean Jones careening backwards. A chip ahead from Lauina Futi was hacked ahead and regathered by the scrumhalf, but on review Smith was offside and the try was taken off the board. Instead Carty would get a second shot at the posts and he made no mistake to leave it a one-point game at the first hydration break.

It was Smith the creator shortly after play resumed. Some phase play sucked in the Chicago defense and Smith spotted a large patch of open field in the left corner. He deftly chipped ahead and with nobody at home it was an easy pick-up and dot-down for Martin Iosefo.

A set move from a scrum saw Lauina Futi wrapping around into the midfield to create an overlap. Adriaan Carelse was the link to Iosefo out wide, and the winger goose-stepped off his left foot to beat his former sevens teammate Matai Leuta, but Bryce Campbell came streaking across to knock the ball loose and prevent what looked a certain try.

The onslaught from Seattle continued. Ben Landry spun out of a tackle and made headway down the left flank. Charles Elton was next to break the gainline on the right side, and then Smith again drove over the line. This time the scrumhalf was held up, but the Seawolves were on advantage and opted for an attacking lineout. The maul was driven over with James Malcolm getting credit for the score.

Early in the second half it was a mistake by Chicago that handed the bonus point to Seattle. A pass from Billy Meakes intended for Julián Domínguez instead went to ground, and Ronan Foley snatched up the loose ball to race 40 meters untouched for a try against the run of play. AJ Alatimu made it four-from-four on conversions and the score was now 28-6 to the Seawolves.

George Thornton had only just come on the pitch when he was deemed the culprit for a scrum collapse, and the referee reached in his pocket to produce a yellow card. Chicago managed to regain possession but a kick ahead from Leuta was countered with interest. Smith again was the catalyst, scything through a gap and finding Alatimu on his shoulder. Quick hands to Jake Turnbull put the prop over the line for Seattle’s fifth try.

The Hounds nearly found the line themselves when Meakes broke free on halfway just after the restart. Michael Baska was there in support but a last-ditch tackle from Dan Kriel knocked the ball out of the scrumhalf’s hands before he could reach the line.

At last the visitors would get the try they were searching for. Domínguez took off from inside his own 22 and fended off three would-be tacklers before offloading to Baska. Meakes made a half-break and a handful of recycles later Jones piled over between the sticks for seven points. That would be the final scoring act of the day.

Both teams are on the road next Saturday. The Seawolves head to the nation’s capital to face off against Old Glory DC, while the Hounds square off against the SaberCats in Houston.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 35
Tries (5) – J. Smith (10′), M. Iosefo (23′), J. Malcolm (37′), R. Foley (44′), J. Turnbull (57′)
Cons (5) – A. Alatimu 5/5 (11′, 24′, 38′, 45′, 58′)

CHICAGO 13
Tries (1) – M. Jones (71′)
Cons (1) – No kick (71′)
Pens (2) – L. Carty 2/2 (6′, 20′)
YC (1) – G. Thornton (54′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Jake Turnbull 55′), 2 James Malcolm (16 Peter Malcolm 56′), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Sam Matenga 55′), 4 Samu Manoa (20 Andrew Durutalo 55′), 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Ben Landry (co-capt.), 7 Charles Elton (co-capt.) (21 Nakai Penny 64′), 8 Ronan Foley, 9 JP Smith (22 Karl Keane 64′), 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti (23 David Busby 58′), 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Adriaan Carelse

Not used: 19 Rhyno Herbst

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White (17 George Thornton 53′), 2 Mason Koch (16 Lindsey Stevens 32′), 3 Charlie Abel (18 Mika Felix 51′), 4 Mike Matarazzo, 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Michael de Waal (20 Tinashe Muchena 58′), 7 Maclean Jones (1 LaRome White 55′-64′), 8 Luke White (19 Justice Nkombua 61′), 9 Sidney Shoop (21 Michael Baska HT), 10 Luke Carty (22 Nick Taylor 58′), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Chris Mattina (23 JP Eloff 69′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Saro Turner (Canada)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)