Seattle strikes Gold in MLR classic

photo credit: Quinn Width / Width Photography / Seattle Seawolves

Recap

The Seattle faithful were treated to an instant classic at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening as the Seawolves edged the NOLA Gold 25-24. Despite being outscored four tries to one, the home side got the win thanks to the unerring boot of Brock Staller. The leading scorer in Major League Rugby would end with a perfect 7-from-7 from the tee for a 20 point haul.

From the opening kickoff the game had an intensity unmatched by the three games that preceded it this weekend. NOLA entered ranked 1st overall with Seattle, the defending champions, distinctly behind in 2nd but a team on the rise. The fierce contest reflected that with several thunderous hits from both sides setting the tone early.

It was all zeros on the board until Staller landed his first kick head ahead of the hydration break. With the deadlock broken New Orleans were next to strike. Penalties gave the Gold an attacking lineout that Kyle Baillie won clean. His captain Eric Howard peeled away from the maul and was unstoppable from short range to grab a converted try.

Seattle would do all the scoring from there to the break. As their skipper, Shalom Suniula, left the field dazed, Staller landed his second kick from straight in front to claw one back. NOLA did not lie down willingly, however, and nearly hit back soon after.

Moni Tonga’uiha came painfully close to scoring but the Gold flanker knocked on with the line in arm’s reach. Instead the Seattle scrum flexed its muscles and won a another three points via Staller, this time a long-range effort from a tricky angle. It was the scrum again with the Canadian obliging with his fourth kick of the half to bring on the intermission.

The Seawolves pushed further ahead early in the second half. Sequoyah Burke-Combs broke the line and a couple phases later Dion Crowder looked to have made the line but it was ruled held up in a desperate tackle attempt from JP Eloff. There was no escape from the scrum, however, and Riekert Hattingh needed only to fall over the line after the tight five did the hard work.

With the score now 19-7, New Orleans needed to score next and they did. The ‘Seawall’ held strong until Cam Dolan’s offload put Tim Maupin through down the right sideline. He popped back inside to Tristan Blewett, who in turn found Con Foley on his inside for a superb 60-meter team try.

The gap nearly closed entirely just a few minutes later. More crisp passing nearly put Eloff through but he was scragged just short by Brad Tucker. Blewett was there to take the pop off the deck, however, and dive over the line for another try. Playing on a heavily-taped ankle, Eloff couldn’t land the extras but it was now 19-17 and all to play for.

Staller kept his rhythm and nudged Seattle ahead just inside the final quarter with a 40 meter effort. His sixth penalty was be from much closer and NOLA were now short on time to salvage points.

A high tackle gave them a lineout platform and Kevin Sullivan had the strength to make it from a meter away. It was the the bonus point try and also set them on course for a second bonus. They controlled the restart for one last assault but couldn’t get out of their end and a loose ball was hoofed into touch to bring the 3,750 in attendance to their feet.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 25
Tries – R. Hattingh (47′)
Cons – B. Staller 1/1 (48′)
Pens – B. Staller 6/6 (20′, 28′, 34′, 40′, 62′, 77′)

NOLA 24
Tries – E. Howard (24′), C. Foley (50′), T. Blewett (55′), K. Sullivan (78′)
Cons – J. Eloff 2/4 (25′, 79′)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Kellen Gordon (18 Ryan Youngman 79′), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 67′), 3 Tim Metcher (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 52′), 4 Jérémy Lenaerts (19 Taylor Krumrei 61′), 5 Apisai Naikatini (20 Eric Duechle 52′), 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 Phil Mack, 10 Ben Cima (21 JP Smith 56′), 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs, 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.) (22 Roland Suniula 27′), 13 George Barton (23 Dion Crowder HT), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner

NOLA GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens (18 Kevin Sullivan 56′), 2 Eric Howard (capt.), 3 Matt Harmon (17 Cam Falcon 56′), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (19 John Sullivan 64′), 7 Nikola Bursic (20 Zack Stryffeler HT), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert (21 Michael Baska 64′), 10 Scott Gale (23 Nick Feakes 11′), 11 Tristan Blewett, 12 Con Foley, 13 Taylor Howden, 14 Tim Maupin (22 Joeli Tikoisuva 75′), 15 JP Eloff

Not used: 16 Kavika Peniata

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Seattle Seawolves116025
NOLA Gold4200224

Seattle Seawolves

1Kellen Gordon 18 Loosehead Prop
2Stephan Coetzee 16 Hooker
3Tim Metcher 17 Tighthead Prop
4Jérémy Lenaerts 19 Right Lock
5Apisai Naikatini 20 Left Lock
6Brad Tucker Blindside Flanker
7Nakai Penny Openside Flanker
8Riekert Hattingh Number Eight
9Phil Mack Scrumhalf
10Ben Cima 21 Flyhalf
11Sequoyah Burke-Combs Left Wing
12Shalom Suniula 22 Outside Center
13George Barton 23 Inside Center
14Brock Staller Right Wing
15Mat Turner Fullback
16Dan Trierweiler 2 Hooker
17Djustice Sears-Duru 3 Loosehead Prop
18Ryan Youngman 1 Tighthead Prop
19Taylor Krumrei 4 Left Lock
20Eric Duechle 5 Blindside Flanker
21JP Smith 10 Flyhalf
22Roland Suniula 12 Inside Center
23Dion Crowder 13 Right Wing

NOLA Gold

1Hubert Buydens 18 Loosehead Prop
2Eric Howard Hooker
3Matt Harmon 17 Tighthead Prop
4Ignacio Dotti Right Lock
5Kyle Baillie Left Lock
6Moni Tonga’uiha 19 Blindside Flanker
7Nikola Bursic 20 Openside Flanker
8Cam Dolan Number Eight
9Holden Yungert 21 Scrumhalf
10Scott Gale 23 Flyhalf
11Tristan Blewett Left Wing
12Con Foley Inside Center
13Taylor Howden Outside Center
14Tim Maupin 22 Right Wing
15JP Eloff Fullback
16Kavika Peniata Loosehead Prop
17Cam Falcon 3 Tighthead Prop
18Kevin Sullivan 1 Loosehead Prop
19John Sullivan 6 Blindside Flanker
20Zack Stryffeler 7 Openside Flanker
21Michael Baska 9 Scrumhalf
22Joeli Tikoisuva 14 Right Wing
23Nick Feakes 10 Left Wing

Officials

Referee
Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant Referee 1
Scott Green (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Brett Johnson (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season Attendance
April 21, 2019 10:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019 3750

Venue

Starfire Stadium
Tukwila, King County, Washington, United States of America

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