AG’s edge Seawolves in high-flying contest

A hat trick from Lauina Futi wasn’t enough to propel the Seattle Seawolves to victory as the Austin Gilgronis held on for a 36-31 win at Starfire Stadium on Sunday. It was an exciting back-and-forth contest that went down to the last play of the game before a victor was assured.

The first points of the game was one of the most bizarre tries seen in Major League Rugby. Seattle won a clean turnover deep in their end to halt an AG approach, but when the ball was produced at the breakdown Akihito Yamada inexplicably tossed a no-look between-the-legs pass to nobody. Maclean Jones simply fell on the ball for the try. Kurt Morath’s conversion made it a seven-point gift.

Jones conceded a penalty on the restart to give Seattle a chance to hit back immediately. They turned down three points and went for the lineout. After attacking the middle the ball came back to the right where Futi had just enough space to speed into the corner. AJ Alatimu couldn’t find the posts from the tough angle.

The AG’s scored their second try from a perfectly-executed strike move. Ruben de Haas found Isaac Ross at first receiver, the big lock passing back inside to Mack Mason in full flight. He fixed the final defender and set Hugh Roach free for the finish. Morath was again on target at it was 14-5.

Seattle lost hooker James Malcolm to what looked like a shoulder injury before Roach grabbed a double. This time it was a more conventional hooker’s try, with the maul defense splintering from the dominant AG drive. Further trouble hit the Seawolves before halftime as Ross Neal left the field with a head knock, to be replaced by Moses Lalasava.

After collecting themselves in the sheds the home side were first to score in the second half. Back-to-back penalties conceded field position and JP Smith’s quick tap put Austin on the back foot. Mike Shepherd, who had replaced Malcolm, blasted through the tackle attempt of Kyle Breytenbach for the try with Alatimu adding the routine conversion.

The game exploded with action 10 minutes later. Seattle were awarded an attacking scrum and Smith broke the the back, feeding to Futi. The winger froze Zinzan Elan-Puttick with his footwork and touched down for a brace. Alatimu’s kick tied the game but it wouldn’t hold for long.

A bad mistake at the restart saw the ball bouncing free, and it was toed ahead by the AG pursuit. Conner Mooneyham won the race with an acrobatic dive to ground the ball before it went to touch-in-goal. Morath was on target to restore Austin’s seven-point lead.

Riekert Hattingh nearly scored at the other end moments later. Shepherd’s pass sent his captain through a gap and there was only green in front but Dominic Akina appeared from nowhere with a stunning tackle that dislodged the ball.

The AG’s looked to be pulling pull away after the hydration break. Smith shifted to flyhalf and a loose pass was roped in by Frank Halai, the big man sprinting home from beyond halfway for an automatic seven. Seattle weren’t done yet, however. Futi made it a hat trick as he scorched through on a switch move for his own seven-pointer.

Morath nudged Austin ahead once more with a penalty kick but again the Seawolves came roaring back. Sustained pressure yielded a try for Tommy Clark, the flanker reaching in under the defense from close range. Seattle declined the conversion and won the restart, but Futi’s inexperience showed as he was driven into touch to bring on the final whistle.

Austin’s playoff hopes remain alive with the bonus point win, and they face another must-win scenario next Saturday against the Legion in San Diego. The Seawolves stay at home to dance with the first overall LA Giltinis on Sunday.

SCORING

SEATTLE 31
Tries – L. Futi 3 (10′, 52′, 71′), M. Shepherd (43′), T. Clark (79′)*
Cons – A. Alatimu 2/3 (44′, 53′), No kick (71′)

*Seattle declined to attempt the conversion

AUSTIN 36
Tries – M. Jones (7′), H. Roach 2 (16′, 33′), C. Mooneyham (54′), F. Halai (66′)
Cons – K. Morath 3/4 (8′, 17′, 55′), No kick (66′)
Pens – K. Morath 1/1 (75′)

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 49′), 2 James Malcolm (16 Mike Shepherd 26′), 3 Tim Metcher (18 Jake Ilnicki 56′), 4 Victor Comptat (20 Tommy Clark 49′), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Brad Tucker (19 Conor McGill 76′), 7 Travis Larsen, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Suliasi Tamaivena (22 Seta Tuilevuka 65′), 12 Kieran Joyce, 13 Ross Neal (23 Moses Lalasava 35′), 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Akihito Yamada (21 Devereaux Ferris 53′)

AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Jamie Mackintosh 62′), 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Mason Pedersen (16 Brendan Rams 72′), 4 Isaac Ross (19 Kyle Breytenbach HT), 5 Sebastian de Chaves (20 Michael de Waal 70′), 6 Dominic Akina, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Locky McCaffrey, 9 Ruben de Haas (21 Pele Cowley 50′), 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Conner Mooneyham, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.) (22 Ned Hodson 72′), 13 Frank Halai, 14 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (23 Nick Johnson 70′), 15 Mack Mason

Not used: 18 Phil Hanson

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Denny Russell (USA) & Ryan Curtis (USA)