Seattle power through feisty Austin

The Seattle Seawolves ended their regular season in style with a 38-26 victory over a feisty Austin Elite at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening. It secured Seattle as the second place finishers this season while Austin closed the books on 2019 with a zero in the win column.

From the start it was clear who was the dominant side, though the Elite did their best to make things difficult. Djustice Sears-Duru powered over from close range for the first try, but Austin replied quickly with Travis Larsen crossing on a trick play from a lineout that caught the defense napping.

Brock Staller landed a penalty to calm things down and then two tries from Brad Tucker put the Seawolves in command heading in to the break. The first saw the big lock spinning over after bouncing up quickly off the ground, the second on the end of a huge line break from Jeff Hassler.

The bonus point try was claimed by Riekert Hattingh, a simple finish off the back of what was nearly a push-over try. Hassler himself would do the honors for the fifth try, crossing in the left corner after Ben Cima had jumped into the line. Staller’s sideline conversion made it a perfect 6 from 6 for the Canadian.

With the result no longer in question the Seawolves took their foot off the gas in the final 15 minutes. It allowed Austin to score three late tries with Sione Fangaiuiha, Moe Abdelmonem, and finally Mason Pedersen making their mark. Andrew Suniula knocked over two conversions in the final moments of his storied career with his retirement confirmed before the match.

Seattle will now prepare for their Semi Final match against the Toronto Arrows next weekend at a venue to be determined. Austin will rest their weary legs and begin the rebuilding phase after a largely forgettable second season.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 38
Tries – D. Sears-Duru (8’), B. Tucker 2 (32’, 40’), R. Hattingh (51’), J. Hassler (64’)
Cons – B. Staller 5/5 (9’, 33’, 40’, 52’, 65’)
Pens – B. Staller 1/1 (21’)

AUSTIN 26
Tries – T. Larsen (12’), S. Fangaiuiha (67’), M. Abdelmonem (71’), M. Pedersen (77’)
Cons – Z. Elan-Puttick 1/2 (13’), A. Suniula 2/2 (72’, 77’)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Kellen Gordon 49’), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 57’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 Jake Ilnicki 49’), 4 Api Naikatini (19 Taylor Krumrei HT), 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Samu Manoa (22 Sequoyah Burke-Combs 57’), 7 Nakai Penny (20 Eric Duechle HT), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Phil Mack, 10 JP Smith, 11 Jeff Hassler, 12 Roland Suniula, 13 George Barton (23 Dion Crowder 65’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Ben Cima (21 Scott Dean 74’)

AUSTIN ELITE
1 LaRome White (3 Mason Pedersen 65’), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Tiaan Erasmus 54’), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Sunao Takizawa 57’), 4 Ben Mitchell (capt.) (20 Rikus Zwart 31’), 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Kyle Breytenbach (19 Maikeli Naromaitoga 60’), 7 Dom Bailey (21 Moe Abdelmonem 54’), 8 Travis Larsen (17 Dylan Pieterse 60’), 9 Colby Stevens, 10 Soheyl Jaoudat, 11 Sione Fangaiuiha, 12 Andrew Suniula, 13 JP Aguirre (22 Aidan McMullan 24’), 14 Alex Faison-Donahoe (23 Reece Czarnecki 19’), 15 Zinzan Elan-Puttick

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USAR) & Denny Russell (USAR)