Free Jacks take the spoils in Seattle

The New England Free Jacks made it nine wins in a row with a 34-26 result over the Seattle Seawolves on Sunday. It was an impressive performance from the visitors who were resting several frontline players, though it ultimately has no bearing on the final standings of the regular season.

Beaudein Waaka broke through with a chip and chase in the early minutes, but Lauina Futi raced back to stop the fullback with a desperation tackle. The Free Jacks kept coming and Joel Hintz cross for a try, with Jayson Potroz kicking the conversion. Despite both teams readying for the restart, the TMO intervened and insisted that the play come back for what was a marginal knock-on at the preceding lineout. As if in defiance, the Free Jacks forwards smashed over again just a minute later with Andrew Quattrin getting the credit and Potroz again finding his mark.

The Seawolves got on the board when Paula Balekana pinched off his wing and left Dan Kriel wide open on the outside. AJ Alatimu tapped on Sam Matenga’s pass directly to Kriel, who sprinted 30 meters to touch down in the corner. New England almost had an immediate reply but Wayne van der Bank was stopped just short on a line break, with Futi winning a turnover to stop the momentum.

It was only a temporary reprieve. When the driving maul was stopped at an attacking lineout, the ball was spun wide and Waaka froze the defense just long enough to send Balekana into the corner. Potroz calmly slotted the extras from the sideline and added a penalty from 40 meters out to make the score 17-7 for the visitors at halftime.

The Free Jacks stretched their lead early in the second half. First Sam Fischli ran onto a Joe Johnston offload to score after Semisi Paea had made a half-break. Another three-pointer from the boot of Potroz pushed the lead to 20 points heading towards the final quarter.

Two scores in quick succession from Seattle made things interesting. Tavite Lopeti beat three men to score a super individual effort at the hour mark, and then Peter Malcolm crossed on the back of a lineout drive. Ethan Fryer’s try from close range put the result beyond doubt for New England, but Malcolm could grab a consolation double before the final whistle.

Both teams close out the regular season next Sunday, and both will square off against playoff-caliber opposition. The Free Jacks host the Houston SaberCats, while the Seawolves hit the road to take on the Western Conference-leading San Diego Legion.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 26
Tries (4) – D. Kriel (25′), T. Lopeti (60′), P. Malcolm 2 (66′, 78′)
Cons (3) – A. Alatimu 3/4 (26′, 61′, 67′)

NEW ENGLAND 34
Tries (4) – A. Quattrin (19′), P. Balekana (35′), S. Fischli (43′), E. Fryer (74′)
Cons (4) – J. Potroz 4/4 (20′, 36′, 44′, 75′)
Pens (2) – J. Potroz 2/2 (40′, 53′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Jake Turnbull (17 Dewald Donald 51′), 2 James Malcolm (16 Peter Malcolm 51′), 3 Sam Matenga (18 Mason Pedersen 51′), 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Taylor Krumrei (20 Ronan Foley 32′), 6 Ben Mitchell, 7 Charles Elton (capt.), 8 Andrew Durutalo (19 Nakai Penny 46′), 9 JP Smith (21 Devereaux Ferris 75′), 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo (23 Conner Mooneyham 73′), 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews (22 Adriaan Carelse 63′)

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kianu Kereru-Symes (17 Foster DeWitt 61′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 James Hilterbrand 61′), 3 Joel Hintz (18 Conor Young 61′), 4 Semisi Paea, 5 Reegan O’Gorman (19 Jesse Parete 61′), 6 Sam Fischli (8 Cam Davidowicz 77′), 7 Joe Johnston (capt.) (23 Mitch Jacobson 68′), 8 Cam Davidowicz (20 Ethan Fryer 55′), 9 John Poland (21 Holden Yungert 61′), 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Spencer Jones (22 Isaac Olson 63′), 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Beaudein Waaka

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)