San Diego recovers from slow start to beat Seattle

San Diego recovered from an 18-point first half deficit to defeat Seattle 45-33 at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday. It was a free-flowing affair with the two sides combining for 11 tries. While the victory gives confidence to the Legion, it’s the Seawolves who will host their July 21 postseason meeting.

The visitors were on the front foot early. Ma’a Nonu put in a thumping tackle on Mack Mason, but the flyhalf got his pass away just in time and Divan Rossouw had enough room to finish the opening try. Matt Giteau responded with a penalty goal to open San Diego’s account and it was 7-3 to Seattle.

Two tries from the Seawolves put their hosts on alert. Duncan Matthews sliced up the middle and found Lauina Futi on his left for the finish. Cameron Orr then broke a tackle and handed the ball off to Mahonri Ngakuru with Mason’s conversions making the score 21-3.

The Legion began their comeback when Jay Tuivaiti powered through on a first phase play from a lineout. San Diego kept the pressure on and after Giteau turned down a shot at the posts in favor of the corner, Hugh Roach touched down at the end of a driving maul to reduce the gap to four points at halftime.

Filimoni Waqainabete inspired San Diego early in the second half. His first line break saw Danny Christensen and Mikey Te’o helping out to put Blair Cowan in for a try, giving the Legion the lead. A second burst led to a Giteau three-pointer and the home side were now up by four.

Poor defense saw the Seawolves slipping back in front. Mason’s chip ahead was allowed to bounce and Rossouw hacked it on with Tavite Lopeti regathering and quickly passing to Jeremiah Sio for a try. It was a temporary lead, however, as Tomas Aoake sparked a long-range try with Cowan and Vili Helu combining to send Lincoln McClutchie in for San Diego’s fourth try.

Waqainabete got himself on the score sheet when he picked up a loose ball on his own 22-meter line and sprinted clear against the run of play. McClutchie then tacked on three points after a scrum penalty. The result was put beyond doubt when Te’o burst on to a flat pass from Nick Boyer to go in under the posts. Monate Akuei would grab a consolation score on a quick tap but time was up on the clock.

The two sides will rematch in Tukwila after a two week break for the test window. Players from both sides will be suiting up for the USA, with San Diego prop Djustice Sears-Duru joining the Canadian camp.

SAN DIEGO 45
Tries (6) – J. Tuivaiti (28′), H. Roach (40’+1′), B. Cowan (43′), L. McClutchie (55′), F. Waqainabete (58′), M. Te’o (74′)
Cons (3) – M. Giteau 2/3 (29′), L. McClutchie 0/2, No kick (74′)
Pens (1) – M. Giteau 2/2 (8′, 47′), L. McClutchie 1/1 (67′)

SEATTLE 33
Tries (5) – D. Rossouw (3′), L. Futi (15′), M. Ngakuru (24′), J. Sio (50′), M. Akuei (80′)
Cons (4) – M. Mason 3/4 (4′, 16′, 25′), S. Windsor 1/1 (80’+1′)

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio (17 Faka’osi Pifeleti 56′), 2 Hugh Roach (16 Cyrille Cama 59′), 3 Luke Green (18 Darcy Breen 54′), 4 Jay Tuivaiti (19 Brandon Harvey 54′), 5 Charlie Hewitt (20 Isaac Ross 47′), 6 Vili Helu, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.) (21 Paddy Ryan 59′), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Matt Giteau (23 Lincoln McClutchie 51′), 11 James Vaifale, 12 Ma’a Nonu (22 Nick Boyer 62′), 13 Filimoni Waqainabete, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Mikey Te’o

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr (17 Dewald Donald 51′), 2 DaQuan Perry (16 Jackson Zabierek 59′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Chance Wenglewski 51′), 4 Isaia Lotawa (19 Taylor Krumrei 51′), 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Devin Short (20 Pago Haini 59′), 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Huw Taylor, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Mack Mason (capt.) (22 Sam Windsor 51′), 11 Lauina Futi (23 Rhys Jones 71′), 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Divan Rossouw (21 JP Smith 51′), 14 Jeremiah Sio, 15 Duncan Matthews

Date: Saturday, June 29
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 19:00 local
Weather: sunny, 71°F (22°C), wind NW 10-15mph (16-24km/h)

Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Kirk Swanner (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)