Glendale stops Seattle to seal top spot

Recap

The Glendale Raptors kept their unbeaten record intact as they recovered from a poor start to defeat the Seattle Seawolves by 33-11 at Infinity Park on Saturday. It’s a bitterly disappointing result for the visitors, who were intent to set a marker ahead of a possible showdown in the Major League Rugby Final just three weeks away.

It was Seattle who made the greatest impression early. The Seawolves kept the tempo high and piled on the pressure. Using the scrum as a launching pad, two quick recycles saw the ball in Mozac Samson’s hands and the powerful Canadian international showed his strength to wrestle his way through two defenders and score the first try.

The Seawolves continued to make headway using soft hands to attack space. Glendale were unable to to settle in defense and eventually a penalty was conceded for Will Holder to take three points. He took another three with a drop goal from straight in front on advantage.

Their surprising collapse came swiftly and cruelly. It stemmed from a poor questionable decision in the 32nd minute. Instead of taking another three with a routine penalty, they opted for the corner and Holder’s kick went through the dead ball line.

Glendale were able to clear their lines. Seattle mounted another attack but the ball came loose in a tackle and Chad London was quickest to pounce, racing clear for a 70 meter sprint under the posts. With their confidence back they immediately moved back into scoring position and this time it was Zach Fenoglio who went over on the back of a driving maul.

The opening minutes of the second half were calamitous for the Seawolves. Trapped in their own end, Holder’s exit kick failed to find touch and the counter attack put Mika Kruse over for a simple try.

A Seth Halliman break looked to be leading the team straight back to another score when Cam Polson’s cover tackle was deemed reckless and the second row was sent to the bin. Glendale would score twice with the advantage, with London grabbing a second and Connor Cook slipping out of tackles for their fifth and final try.

Back at even strength the two sides would finish on a stalemate with no further scores coming from either side, but the damage was done. Glendale proved their mettle once again and in doing so clinched top seed in the Semi Finals with a week to spare.

SCORING

GLENDALE 33
Tries – C. London 2 (35’, 49’), Z. Fenoglio (39’), M. Kruse (44’), C. Cook (52’)
Cons – M. de Achaval 4/5 (36’, 40’, 50’, 53’)

SEATTLE 11
Tries – M. Samson (10’)
Cons – W. Holder 0/1
Pens – W. Holder 1/1 (16’)
Drop goals – W. Holder 1/1 (29’)
Yellow cards – C. Polson (46’)

TEAMS

GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers (16 Luke White 48’), 2 Zach Fenoglio (capt.), 3 Kelepi Fifita (17 Nick Kwasniewski HT), 4 Casey Rock (20 Logan Collins 57’), 5 Kody O’Neil (18 James Del Bozque 67’), 6 Connor Cook, 7 Brian Wanless (19 Devin Vaughter 57’), 8 Peter Dahl, 9 Jake Christmann, 10 Maximo de Achaval, 11 John Ryberg (22 Nick Johnson 57’), 12 Mika Kruse (21 Mickey Bateman 77’), 13 Chad London, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Seth Halliman (23 Siale Maka 70’)

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Kellen Gordon (17 John Hayden 46’), 2 Dan Trierweiler (16 Louie Henson 65’), 3 Tim Metcher (18 LaRome White 64’), 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Cam Polson, 6 Eric Duechle (20 Cole van Harn 77’), 7 Nakai Penny (19 Jérémy Lenaerts 60’), 8 Aladdin Schirmer, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Will Holder (22 Peter Smith 46’), 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs, 12 Mozac Samson (21 Andre Coquillard 77’), 13 William Rasileka, 14 Jeremy Misailegalu (23 Dion Crowder 77’), 15 Mat Turner