The Seattle Seawolves host the Utah Warriors at 5 pm (8 pm ET) on May 26 at Starfire Stadium. A limited number of standing room tickets are available for military appreciation night. The match is being broadcast on ESPN+, KMYU, and on Root Sports.
The Seattle Seawolves have been difficult to beat at home. The team is not only trying to secure a playoff spot but is also seeking to move into second place and host one of the two semifinal playoff matches. Currently, the Seawolves are in third place with a 10-4 record with 51 points, one point behind NOLA Gold. The team concludes the regular season on June 2 against Austin Elite Rugby.
The Utah Warriors are 2-11-1 and are in seventh place with 17 points. The team is playing their best rugby of the year and hopes to play a spoiler role this week and then concludes their season at home against Houston on June 1.
Match Comments
While the time in possession and in their opponent’s territory are even, the Warriors have a slight edge in their attacking minutes average with 40.1 to the Seawolves 38.8. Both teams excel in counterattacks and are tries are scored from long range.
The Seawolves have been more prolific in scoring tries 56-44, yet their defense also concedes fewer 46 to 63. The Seawolves are penalized less averaging 8.2 penalties per match compared with 9.5 for the Warriors. The Seawolves will test the Warriors scrum. They have an edge in the set pieces winning their own scrums 96% to 83 for the Warriors and have an 86-81% edge in the lineouts. The Warriors have also been penalized more in the scrums.
The Seawolves also will take penalty goals when presented. Brock Staller has scored 23 compared (2nd) with the Warriors Tim O’Malley, 13. Staller is also the leading point scorer with 181 points, while O’Malley is 6th with 110 points.
Don’t give Mat Turner any space as his sevens skills are legendary and often result in tries (8 for the season). The Warriors can counter with the dangerous Fets Vainikolo, who is tied with Lance Williams with 4. The Seawolves Turner may lead the group, but Stephan Coetzee is right behind with 7 and Staller with 6.
Seattle Seawolves Head Coach Richie Walker has made one change in his starters with SAmu Manoa gaining his first start of the season with Riekert Hattingh rested. Both Taylor Krumrei and Roland Suniula join the matchday roster as reserves.
Utah Warriors Head Coach Alf Daniels has made four changes in his starters with Les Soloai at No.8, Fets Vainikolo and Nolan Tuamoheloa the wings, and Josh Whippy at outside center. Josh Anderson also joins the matchday roster in the reserves.
Squads with Player Article Links
Seattle Seawolves: 1 Djustice Sears-Duru 2 Stephan Coetzee 3 Tim Metcher 4 Apisai Naikatini 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Brad Tucker 7 Nakai Penny 8 Samu Manoa 9 JP Smith10 Ben Cima 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs 12 Shalom Suniula (C) 13 George Barton 14 Brock Staller 15 Mat Turner 16 Dan Trierweiler17 Kellen Gordon 18 Jake Ilnicki 19 Taylor Krumrei 20 Eric Duechle 21 Phil Mack 22 Roland Suniula 23 Jeff Hassler + Head Coach Richie Walker
Utah Warriors: 1 Franco Van den Berg 2 Jeremy Leber 3 Angus Maclellan 4 Saia Uhila (VC) 5 Matt Jensen 6 Lance Williams 7 Ara Elkington 8 Les Soloai 9 Johnny Ika 10 Josh Reeves 11 Fetu’u Vanikolo 12 Tim O’Malley (C) 13 Josh Whippy 14 Nolan Tuamoheloa 15 James Semple 16 Alex Tucci 17 Metai Tuimoala 18 Arthur Bergo19 Huluhola Moungaloa 20 John Cullen 21 Jeremy Misailegalu 22 Josh Anderson 23 Joseph Nicholls + Head Coach Alf Daniels
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