Seawolves conquer Warriors in Seattle thriller

A sold-out crowd at Starfire Stadium was treated to a thrilling spectacle of running rugby as the home town Seattle Seawolves defeated the Utah Warriors 41-32 on Sunday evening. Each team scored five tries but it was the outstanding goal kicking and resolute defense of the Seawolves that proved the difference against a high-impact Warriors attack.

Utah were quickest out of the gate with Lote Tu’ipulotu reaching just far enough to score a try with fans still finding their seats. Kurt Morath couldn’t connect on the conversion but sent over a penalty goal soon after to make it a two-score gap.

Seattle bounced back from the restart. Peter Tiberio won possession and made considerable yardage before William Rasileka powered over off the back of a ruck. Just a couple minutes later it was George Barton who broke clear from his own end, finishing with a textbook two-on-one to set Mat Turner free.

A trick play at the lineout caught the Seawolves napping and handed Tu’ipulotu a second down the blindside. The Warriors looked dead set on scoring again and even pressed to within a couple meters of the try line but the Seawolves held on for more than 30 phases to win a turnover in a tremendous defensive stand.

The resilience was rewarded as they fought back into Utah territory and Peter Smith sent over a three-pointer. Phil Mack broke free next and Vili Toluta’u was there to touch down, Smith’s third conversion making it 24-13.

There was still time for Tonata Lauti to take an Alex Tucci offload and step past a couple defenders for a converted score. An immediate response came from the Seawolves, however, winning a penalty at the restart for Brock Staller to add another three to their account.

By early in the second half the scars of battle were on Seattle’s faces. Barton and Smith had already been forced off with head knocks and a gash over Tiberio’s eye was wrapped with a season’s supply of tape to stop the bleeding. Cam Polson limped off but the replacements held up their end of the bargain.

Mack was at the heart of several attacks and his quick thinking pinned the Warriors deep in their end with a long kick in behind the cover. Lauti couldn’t find the ball and Eric Duechle rampaged ahead only to be stopped inches short. He would have another go before Mack peeked around the corner and sold the post defense a dummy to score the bonus point try. Toluta’u would get a second moments later, driving over in the corner to all but ice the result.

Eventually the tacklers bounced off the Warriors big men and Paul Lasike smashed straight through to set up a try for Ara Elkington. With time almost up an overthrown lineout handed a free pass to Paki Afu to bolt under the sticks, but even the conversion wasn’t enough to secure a losing bonus point.

The Seawolves will stay at home next week with the NOLA Gold set to arrive on Sunday. Utah head south to Houston for a must-win game against the SaberCats that could well decide who goes to the Major League Rugby Semi Finals and who hits the golf course early.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 41
Tries – W. Rasileka (10’), M. Turner (13’), V. Toluta’u 2 (29’, 61’), P. Mack (58’)
Cons – P. Smith 3/3 (11’, 14’, 30’), B. Staller 2/2 (59’, 62’)
Pens – P. Smith 1/1 (27’), B. Staller 1/1 (39’)

UTAH 32
Tries – L. Tu’ipulotu 2 (3’, 17’), T. Lauti (36’), A. Elkington (68’), P. Afu (78’)
Cons – K. Morath 2/5 (37’, 79’)
Pens – K. Morath 1/1 (8’)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Kellen Gordon 56’), 2 Dan Trierweiler (16 LaRome White 70’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 John Hayden 53’), 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Cam Polson (19 Eric Duechle 43’), 6 Aladdin Schirmer, 7 Vili Toluta’u, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.) (20 Cole van Harn 51’), 9 Phil Mack, 10 Peter Smith (21 Will Holder 38’), 11 Peter Tiberio (23 Sequoyah Burke-Combs 26’-34’), 12 George Barton (22 Jeremy Misailegalu 20’), 13 William Rasileka, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci (19 Maika Hafoka 51’), 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu (16 Tino Mafi 53’), 3 Angus MacLellan (17 Maka Tameilau 70’), 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Lance Williams (20 John Cullen 51’), 7 Ara Elkington, 8 David Tameilau (18 Les Soloai 56’), 9 Joseph Nicholls (23 Ben Nicholls 78’), 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Tonata Lauti, 12 Paul Lasike (capt.), 13 Fetu’u Vainikolo (22 Paki Afu 70’), 14 Josh Anderson (21 Kisa Kalougata 47’), 15 Don Pati

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Luke Rogan (ARU)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (RC) & Denny Russell (USAR)