Seawolves power through feisty Elite

photo credit: Norma Salinas / Austin Elite Rugby

Recap

The Seattle Seawolves ended their regular season in style with a 38-26 victory over a feisty Austin Elite at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening. It secured Seattle as the second place finishers this season while Austin closed the books on 2019 with a zero in the win column.

From the start it was clear who was the dominant side, though the Elite did their best to make things difficult. Djustice Sears-Duru powered over from close range for the first try, but Austin replied quickly with Travis Larsen crossing on a trick play from a lineout that caught the defense napping.

Brock Staller landed a penalty to calm things down and then two tries from Brad Tucker put the Seawolves in command heading in to the break. The first saw the big lock spinning over after bouncing up quickly off the ground, the second on the end of a huge line break from Jeff Hassler.

The bonus point try was claimed by Riekert Hattingh, a simple finish off the back of what was nearly a push-over try. Hassler himself would do the honors for the fifth try, crossing in the left corner after Ben Cima had jumped into the line. Staller’s sideline conversion made it a perfect 6 from 6 for the Canadian.

With the result no longer in question the Seawolves took their foot off the gas in the final 15 minutes. It allowed Austin to score three late tries with Sione Fangaiuiha, Moe Abdelmonem, and finally Mason Pedersen making their mark. Andrew Suniula knocked over two conversions in the final moments of his storied career with his retirement confirmed before the match.

 

SCORING

SEATTLE 38
Tries – D. Sears-Duru (8’), B. Tucker 2 (32’, 40’), R. Hattingh (51’), J. Hassler (64’)
Cons – B. Staller 5/5 (9’, 33’, 40’, 52’, 65’)
Pens – B. Staller 1/1 (21’)

AUSTIN 26
Tries – T. Larsen (12’), S. Fangaiuiha (67’), M. Abdelmonem (71’), M. Pedersen (77’)
Cons – Z. Elan-Puttick 1/2 (13’), A. Suniula 2/2 (72’, 77’)

 

TEAMS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru (17 Kellen Gordon 49’), 2 Stephan Coetzee (16 Dan Trierweiler 57’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 Jake Ilnicki 49’), 4 Api Naikatini (19 Taylor Krumrei HT), 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Samu Manoa (22 Sequoyah Burke-Combs 57’), 7 Nakai Penny (20 Eric Duechle HT), 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Phil Mack, 10 JP Smith, 11 Jeff Hassler, 12 Roland Suniula, 13 George Barton (23 Dion Crowder 65’), 14 Brock Staller, 15 Ben Cima (21 Scott Dean 74’)

AUSTIN ELITE
1 LaRome White (3 Mason Pedersen 65’), 2 Peter Malcolm (16 Tiaan Erasmus 54’), 3 Mason Pedersen (18 Sunao Takizawa 57’), 4 Ben Mitchell (capt.) (20 Rikus Zwart 31’), 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Kyle Breytenbach (19 Maikeli Naromaitoga 60’), 7 Dom Bailey (21 Moe Abdelmonem 54’), 8 Travis Larsen (17 Dylan Pieterse 60’), 9 Colby Stevens, 10 Soheyl Jaoudat, 11 Sione Fangaiuiha, 12 Andrew Suniula, 13 JP Aguirre (22 Aidan McMullan 24’), 14 Alex Faison-Donahoe (23 Reece Czarnecki 19’), 15 Zinzan Elan-Puttick

 

Result

TeamTCPDBPPoints
Seattle Seawolves5510138
Austin Elite4300126

Seattle Seawolves

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

Austin Elite

1LaRome White Loosehead Prop
2Peter Malcolm 16 Hooker
3Mason Pedersen 18 Tighthead Prop
4Ben Mitchell 20 Left Lock
5Josh Larsen Right Lock
6Kyle Breytenbach 19 Blindside Flanker
7Dom Bailey 21 Openside Flanker
8Travis Larsen 17 Number Eight
9Colby Stevens Scrumhalf
10Soheyl Jaoudat Flyhalf
11Sione Fangaiuiha Right Wing
12Andrew Suniula Inside Center
13Juan Pablo Aguirre 22 Outside Center
14Alex Faison-Donahoe 23 Left Wing
15Zinzan Elan-Puttick Fullback
16Tiaan Erasmus 2 Hooker
17Dylan Pieterse 8 Blindside Flanker
18Sunao Takizawa 3 Loosehead Prop
19Maikeli Naromaitoga 6 Right Lock
20Rikus Zwart 4 Number Eight
21Moe Abdelmonem 7 Openside Flanker
22Aidan McMullan 13 Fullback
23Reece Czarnecki 14 Left Wing

Officials

Referee
Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant Referee 1
Derek Summers (USA)
Assistant Referee 2
Denny Russell (USA)

Details

Date Time League Season
June 2, 2019 8:00 pm Major League Rugby 2019

Venue

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

Video

Americas Players Chasing Milestones in 2025

Americas players are closing in on career milestones for country. A range of Americas players are chasing milestones and some will certainly reach them in 2025. This article identifies players to follow closely in 2025. Players from the six leading Americas rugby countries are identified noting which milestone they could …

Read More »

Federico Lavanini to join Colomiers

Federico Lavanini will join his brother, Tomás Lavanini, in France. Rugby Rama report that Colomiers Rugby have approached the brother of the famous Puma and have tabled a two year deal from 2025-2027. This means that Argentine players in France continue to rise. Days after Matías Moroni arrived in Brive, …

Read More »

Two Pumas Undergo Surgery

Two Pumas forwards have undergone surgery. The players are Gloucester second-rower Matías Alemanno and Vannes flanker Juan Bautista Pedemonte. Both now face a significant time on the sidelines before they will play again. Matías Alemanno has undergone surgery on an injured shoulder. The Córdoba second-rower was injured playing for Gloucester …

Read More »

Quesada Names Italy roster ahead of Six Nations

Italian Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada has confirmed a roster to represent Italy in the 2025 Six Nations. The former Pumas fly half will hold a training camp beginning on Sunday, January 19. Italy will open their Six Nations 2025 campaign away against Scotland on February 01 in Edinburgh. Quesada’s roster …

Read More »

Cobras Bring in Argentine Prop Javier Coronel

Os Cobras have made a change to their 2025 roster. Ahead of the pre-season training at NAR in São Paulo, Javier Coronel has joined the Brazilian professional rugby team. He replaces fellow Argentine Diego Vidal who has been ruled out through injury. The Brazilian team has an extended roster of …

Read More »

Selknam Go Big for Super Rugby Americas 2025

Selknam have gone big for Super Rugby Americas 2025. A deep roster of 48 players will be under the command of Head Coach Jake Mangin for a second campaign. The New Zealander will have Argentines Nicolás Bruzzone and Eduardo Acosta as his assistants. Bruzzone was a long-time servant of Los …

Read More »

2025 Peñarol Roster for Super Rugby Americas

Peñarol’s roster has been confirmed for Super Rugby Americas 2024. The Ivo Dugonjic coached side will be Uruguay’s one entrant in the professional South American league. In his rookie season in charge, Dugonjic has a 31-man roster featuring 16 forwards and 15 backs. The roster will increase. Four players have …

Read More »

Yacare Roster for Super Rugby Americas 2025

Paraguay’s professional rugby team, Yacare, is preparing for Super Rugby Americas 2025. The roster for the new season is deep, it contains 41 players: 22 forwards and 19 backs. Twenty of the Yacare roster players are from Argentina. The team will again be coached by Ricardo Le Fort. The Argentine …

Read More »