Seawolves clinch home playoff game with win over Warriors

Seattle clinched home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 27-20 win over Utah at Starfire Stadium on Sunday night. It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Seawolves, though the failure to secure a bonus point means that San Diego are closing in on top spot in the West. The Warriors meanwhile end the weekend four points behind Houston for the third and final playoff ticket.

A scrum penalty gave the Seawolves the platform to open the scoring. The lineout came off the top and Lauina Futi cut up the middle. A couple phases later Martin Iosefo curled around from his off-wing, flicking the ball out of the tackle to Futi for the finish. AJ Alatimu’s conversion made it a full seven.

Utah’s reply came at the end of a flowing end-to-end attack. The ball went wide to Onehunga Havili loitering on the wing. His offload sent Calvin Whiting deep into Seawolves territory. Joel Hodgson’s cross-kick landed in Joe Mano’s hands, and the winger had the presence to pass back inside to Bailey Wilson in support for the finish. Caleb Makene’s kick was wide of its intended target.

The Seawolves struck back on the other side of the hydration break. Jake Turnbull replaced Mzamo Majola, making an immediate impact as the prop offloaded to Rhyno Herbst. He in turn fed Samu Manoa and there was no stopping the big man from short range as he blasted in under the posts.

Discipline began to falter for Seattle and Charles Elton was warned as Makene slotted a three-pointer. From a lineout at halfway the Warriors launched another attack, with Hodgson chipping over the line for Makene to regather. Whiting was there for the give-and-go, and then Mano appeared at full tilt to race away for the try. The conversion from Makene gave the Warriors a 15-14 lead on the stroke of halftime.

Jordan Chait took the lead back for the home side with a three-pointer early in the second half. Mika Kruse was then binned for a deliberate knock-on that prevented a line break. The Seawolves were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage, but they eventually stretched the lead via Chait’s boot just after the second hydration break.

A superb kick from JP Smith brought Seattle from inside their own 22 to inside Utah’s. The forward thundered ahead until space appeared out wide. Andrew Durutalo was stopped just inches short but Ben Landry was there to reach over from the back of the ruck to ground the ball on the line. Chait’s conversion pushed the gap to 12 points in favor of the home side.

There wasn’t enough time for the Warriors to come all the way back, but they did salvage a losing bonus point. Hodgson stepped and swerved up the middle, offloading off the deck to a supporting Wilson. Once again Mano was there to take the scoring pass for his second of the game, and though Makene’s kick was off-target the Warriors would finish within seven.

Both teams will play home games next weekend. It’s a short turnaround for the Warriors as they host the Chicago Hounds on Saturday night. The Seawolves will have a full week to prepare for the New England Free Jacks on Sunday.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 27
Tries (3) – L. Futi (5′), S. Manoa (21′), B. Landry (71′)
Cons (3) – A. Alatimu 1/1 (6′), No kick (21′), J. Chait 1/1 (72′)
Pens (2) – J. Chait 2/2 (44′, 63′)

UTAH 20
Tries (3) – B. Wilson (18′), J. Mano 2 (39′, 78′)
Cons (1) – C. Makene 1/3 (40′)
Pens (1) – C. Makene 1/1 (34′)
YC (1) – M. Kruse (46′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Jake Turnbull 20′), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 James Malcolm 58′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Mason Pedersen 68′), 4 Samu Manoa (20 Andrew Durutalo 61′), 5 Rhyno Herbst (21 Nakai Penny 75′), 6 Ben Landry (co-capt.), 7 Charles Elton (co-capt.), 8 Ronan Foley, 9 JP Smith, 10 Jordan Chait, 11 Martin Iosefo (22 Conner Mooneyham 72′), 12 AJ Alatimu (23 Tavite Lopeti HT), 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Adriaan Carelse

Not used: 19 Taylor Krumrei

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Emerson Prior 50′), 2 Henry Bell, 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 50′), 4 Jamie Lane (19 Jurie van Vuuren 61′), 5 Saia Uhila (20 Lance Williams 50′), 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Onehunga Havili, 8 Thomas Tu’avao (16 Tuvere Vugakoto 61′ {21 Zion Going 72′}), 9 Connor McLeod, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano (22 Tomasi Tonga 79′), 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher (23 Paul Lasike 50′), 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Caleb Makene

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Saro Turner (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)