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The LA Giltinis took another step towards playoff contention with a dominant 31-12 win over the Seattle Seawolves on Saturday. It was a strong turnout at Starfire Stadium but they couldn’t inspire a victory from their team, the visitors overpowering their hosts by five tries to two.
It looked as though Riekert Hattingh had scored a wonder try just seven minutes in, but a TMO review showed that Lauina Futi was in touch when he tapped AJ Alatimu’s cross-kick back into play. The result was an attacking lineout to LA, and they made the most of the field position as Hanco Germishuys rampaged past four defenders to touch down just to the left of the uprights. Luke Burton’s conversion made it 7-0 to the visitors.
A second try to LA came through the forward pack. Seattle held up an initial attack but the Giltinis were on advantage. From a lineout the drive came on and when it stalled, Joe Taufete’e broke off and just managed to get in under the defense and ground the ball on the line. Burton’s kick was pushed wide of the upright.
Martin Iosefo twice broke down the left sideline but on each occasion the Seawolves opted for the cross-kick to the right side and neither connected. They continued with the aerial barrage and it appeared to pay off as Orene Ai’i bobbled the ball straight into the waiting hands of Futi. Again a try was denied on review as the officials ruled a knock-on from the ball bouncing off the top of Futi’s shoulder before he gained possession.
Alatimu missed a shot at posts just two minutes into the second half as Duncan Matthews left the field with what looked like a hamstring problem. It got worse for Seattle moments later as Taufete’e went straight through the tackle attempt of Futi to grab a double. Burton couldn’t add the extra two but the Giltinis were three scores to the good.
The Seawolves finally got a legitimate score just after the hydration break. Victor Comptat replaced Hattingh, who was struggling with a tight hamstring, and the big second row was the target at a lineout. The drive went on and James Malcolm crossed for the try, with Kieran Joyce adding the conversion.
There would be no comeback, however, as the Giltinis fired back with two tries of their own. The first was something out of nothing as Will Chambers picked up a loose ball and ran across the pitch, eventually shoveling the ball to Jordan Trainor for the finish. A penalty try for a collapsed maul was next with Setefano Funaki picked out as the guilty party.
Futi showed some acrobatic skill to claim the restart, and the winger would be rewarded with a consolation try soon after. Joyce spotted his man in space on the right sideline and fired a long miss-out to put Futi into the corner, but it was too little, too late for the home side.
LA head back home to take on the Dallas Jackals on Saturday. Seattle will have a week off to rest and attempt to straighten out their execution issues.
SCORING
SEATTLE 12
Tries – J. Malcolm (63′), L. Futi (75′)
Cons – K. Joyce 1/2 (64′)
Pens – A. Alatimu 0/1
YC – S. Funaki (74′)
LA 31
Tries – H. Germishuys (12′), J. Taufete’e 2 (24′, 45′), J. Trainor (68′), Penalty try (74′)
Cons – L. Burton 2/4 (13′, 69′), No kick (74′)
TEAMS
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola (17 Dewald Donald 73′), 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher (18 Sam Matenga HT), 4 Samu Manoa (20 Tommy Clark 69′), 5 Setefano Funaki, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Nakai Penny (16 Mike Brown 71′), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.) (19 Victor Comptat 58′), 9 JP Smith (21 Reid Watkins 73′), 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo (23 Tai Enosa 46′), 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews (22 Kieran Joyce 42′)
LA GILTINIS
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Andrew Tuala 48′-49′, 58′), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Lindsey Stevens 58′), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Charlie Abel 46′), 4 Luke White (19 Zach Bonte 69′), 5 Dave Dennis (capt.), 6 Nathan Den Hoedt, 7 Christian Poidevin (20 Cyrille Cama 71′), 8 Hanco Germishuys, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Orene Ai’i (21 Tas Smith 71′), 11 Will Chambers (22 Cristian Rodriguez 73′), 12 Luke Burton, 13 Billy Meakes, 14 John Ryberg (23 Ryan James 71′), 15 Jordan Trainor
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Denny Russell (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
