Seawolves hold off Raptors in Seattle thriller

Recap

The Seattle Seawolves edged the Glendale Raptors 20-18 in a thrilling conclusion to the opening weekend of the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Brock Staller led the way for the defending champions with 15 points including the game-winning penalty with just six minutes to play.

It was clear from the start that Seattle’s patented ‘Sea Wall’ defense was not just a one-season wonder. They strangled the Glendale offense for much of the match, with both Raptors tries coming within a 3-minute letup just after the break. As it had in the final the scrum also favored the Seawolves.

Staller had the first crack at goal but couldn’t connect and it was Will Magie who instead ended the stalemate. The second time proved a charm for Staller as he responded with a kick of his own and then after a huge line break from Mat Turner put them into position, tighthead prop Tim Metcher picked and rolled over the line for a try.

Magie added his second penalty before the break but already the signs of frustration were apparent on Glendale faces. While the 10-6 score did not suggest domination the momentum was leaning firmly in Seattle’s direction.

That would come to an abrupt halt after the intermission. The Raptors caught the short side defense taking a breather and Dylan Taikato-Simpson stretched out for a try in his MLR debut. Hanco Germishuys would collect the restart and somehow the Eagles flanker went clean through a block of defenders to set up a try for winger John Ryberg in the left corner.

Unfortunately for Glendale that would be their last scoring act of the game. After two golden opportunities went begging the Seawolves finally made one stick. Vili Toluta’u put Staller in space and the chip-and-chase set up perfectly for a try from their own end. The Canadian winger nailed the conversion to make it a one point game.

Continued pressure forced a mistake by Glendale in their own end and the Seattle scrum went to work. The second-string front row pulverised their opposites and earned a penalty in kicking range. Staller duly obliged his forwards and the ball sailed clean through the uprights. Glendale had one last chance to score but the defense held firm and the Seawolves celebrated their hard-earned victory.

SCORING

SEATTLE 20
Tries – T. Metcher (28’), B. Staller (61’)
Cons – B. Staller 2/2 (29’, 62’)
Pens – B. Staller 2/3 (25’, 74’)
Drop goals – M. Turner 0/1

GLENDALE 18
Tries – D. Taikato-Simpson (42’), J. Ryberg (44’)
Cons – W. Magie 1/2 (43’)
Pens – W. Magie 2/3 (16’, 40’)

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Olive Kilifi (17 Kellen Gordon 62’), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Mike Shepherd 62’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 John Hayden 51’), 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Api Naikatini (19 Jérémy Lenaerts 51’), 6 Brad Tucker (20 Eric Duechle 54’), 7 Vili Toluta’u, 8 Riekert Hattingh (23 Moses Lalasava 78’), 9 Phil Mack (21 JP Smith 51’), 10 Ben Cima, 11 Peter Tiberio, 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 William Rasileka (22 George Barton 65’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers (17 Max Lum 65’), 2 Chad Gough (16 Zach Fenoglio 56’), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (18 Kelepi Fifita 78’), 4 Kody O’Neil (19 Will Munro HT), 5 Luke White (20 Malon Al-Jiboori 67’), 6 Brendan Daly, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Connor Cook (23 Nick Johnson 78’), 9 Shaun Davies (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Chad London, 13 Mika Kruse (22 Robbie Petzer 68’), 14 John Ryberg, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson

Not used: 21 Carlo de Nysschen