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The Seawolves got the bonus point win they were after against Anthem on Friday night. While the final score showed a convincing 29-13 result for the home side, it wasn’t until the second half when they took control with the visitors pushing to within two points at halftime.
Seattle looked sluggish from the get-go, with their first two attacking opportunities turned away by breakdown turnovers. Anthem’s midfield defense was porous at a scrum, however, which opened the door for a 5-meter throw-in to the home side. The forwards did the rest with DaQuan Perry getting credit for the try on the end of the driving maul.
Dylan Fortune was forced off just after the hydration break, with Graeme Pedegana summoned to Carolina’s back row, making his MLR debut earlier than expected. Cliven Loubser opened Anthem’s account with a penalty goal but Sam Windsor equaled the effort soon after to make it 10-3.
Just before halftime the visitors pressed but Seattle had an answer for the maul and Dewald Donald won a turnover to clear. With time up on the clock Duncan Matthews opted to kick downfield but didn’t find touch. Loubser sliced through on a counter-attack and connected with Te Rangatira Waitokia, who in turn delivered the scoring pass to a wide-open Dom Iacovino.
Charles Elton went down clutching his first knee just before halftime, with Huw Taylor replacing the Seawolves vice-captain. By the 46th minute the entire front row had been subbed out, and shortly after first choice halfbacks JP Smith and Mack Mason were summoned to wake Seattle from their slumber.
A disagreement at the scrum between Joe Apikotoa and Cameron Orr saw the two props given a scolding from the referee. Orr won the penalty at the reset, and from an ensuing maul Joe Taufete’e barged over for the try. He appeared to hurt his ankle on the play, however, and Perry returned to the fray.
Mason found Windsor with a cross-kick for a third try on the end of some phase play, but Orr was then binned for a high shot on Apikotoa. Anthem’s opportunity was snuffed out when Mahonri Ngakuru stole a lineout throw, with the Seawolves instead pushing downfield and Taylor crossing from short range to put the game out of reach and secure the bonus point for the home side.
With time nearly up on the clock Kara Pryor saw yellow for a dangerous tackle. This time the visitors would capitalise, with Waitokia grabbing a consolation score after several phases to soften the scoreline and at least push Anthem into double-digits.
It’s another Friday night fixture for Anthem next week, as they return to Charlotte for their showdown with the Western Conference-leading Houston SaberCats. The Seawolves hit the road for a Saturday afternoon fixture against the NOLA Gold.
| SCORING |
SEATTLE 29
Tries (4) – D. Perry (11′), J. Taufete’e (54′), S. Windsor (58′), H. Taylor (67′)
Cons (3) – S. Windsor 3/4 (12′, 59′, 68′)
Pens (1) – S. Windsor 1/1 (26′)
YC (2) – C. Orr (60′), K. Pryor (80′)
CAROLINA 13
Tries (2) – D. Iacovino (40’+1′), T. Waitokia (80’+3′)
Cons (0) – C. Loubser 0/1, S. Barry 0/1
Pens (1) – C. Loubser 1/1 (23′)
| LINEUPS |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Dewald Donald (17 Cameron Orr HT), 2 DaQuan Perry (16 Joe Taufete’e 46′-55′) (1 Dewald Donald 77′), 3 Olive Kilifi (18 Chance Wenglewski 46′), 4 Taylor Krumrei (19 Isaia Lotawa 59′), 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Charles Elton (20 Huw Taylor HT), 7 Kara Pryor (1 Dewald Donald 61′-70′), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Ryan Rees (21 JP Smith 52′), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Jade Stighling (23 Lauina Futi 68′), 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Duncan Matthews (22 Mack Mason 52′)
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (capt.) (17 Dan Hanson 66′), 2 Connor Robinson (16 Jack Manzo 73′), 3 Joe Apikotoa (18 Stephan Bernal-Wendt 66′), 4 James Rivers, 5 Reagan Leslie, 6 Shneil Singh, 7 Joe Basser (19 Lucas Gramlick 69′), 8 Dylan Fortune (20 Graeme Pedegana 19′), 9 Conor McManus (21 Siaosi Nai 70′), 10 Cliven Loubser (22 Shane Barry 73′), 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 Dom Iacovino (23 Tyren Al-Jiboori 61′), 14 Cael Hodgson, 15 Tomasi Alosio
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, May 3
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:30 local
Weather: cloudy, 63°F (17°C), wind SW 5-9mph (8-14km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) & Brad Schwalger (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
