George Barton taking on multiple Raptors to score in the 80th minute (Steven Seiller / Summit Lights Photography )

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2018

SEATTLE – It was only appropriate that rain returned to Seattle on the night that the Seawolves hosted Pacific Northwest Rugby Night to honor the local rugby community. On a wet evening at Starfire Sports, the Seattle Seawolves faced the Glendale Raptors for their 2nd match of the season. Even with the rain coming down, fans poured into the stadium to watch the Major League Rugby's two undefeated teams face off. Unfortunately for the Seawolves, the Raptors were able to get on the board first and survive a late push from Seattle as Glendale pulled away with a final score of 19-15.



Down a man early resulting from a yellow card against Raptors fullback Maximo de Archaval, the Raptors managed to score first when Raptors flyhalf Will Magie converted a kick after a penalty against Seattle to make the game 3-0 in Glendale's favor. Minutes later Glendale was knocking on the door again but a swarming Seattle defense kept the Raptors at bay and allowed the Seawolves to boot the ball away.



It was a defensive fight from both sides for most of the match, with both teams kicking the ball often to keep it out of their territory and refusing to yield any leverage in the scrum. After the Raptors backline made a break in the 22nd minute, they were able to convert another kick shortly afterward to extend their lead to 6-0.



Down 6 points mid-way through the first half, the Seawolves defense were being put to the test but showed a refusal to break. Tenacious rucking from Vili Toluta’u and a penalty kick allowed them to escape their territory in the 28th minute, but Glendale was able to send it to their backs and get the first try in the 35th minute to extend their lead to 11-0.



Seattle was able to answer Glendale's try minutes later by attacking down field and getting in the Raptors' territory. Following an offsides penalty from Glendale, Seattle's Brock Staller was able to convert a kick and bring the score to 11-3, keeping the Seawolves in the fight before the end of the half.



Opening up the second half, you wouldn't know that the rain was so relentless if you just looked at the crowd at Starfire. With the fans firmly behind their Seawolves, Seattle hit the field again to try and rally against the Raptors. A breakaway from Vili Toluta'u electrified the crowd, but a turnover lead to the Raptors marching down the field with their backs and touching down in the corner in the 47th minute. A successful conversion takes the score to 16-3, Glendale's favor.



Not to be outdone, Seattle's powerful scrum came alive in the second half. After driving back the Glendale scrum and earning a penalty, scrum half Phil Mack took a quick tap and made a break for the try line. With the forward pack in support, Vili Toluta'u was able to finish the job and score for the Seawolves. The kick was good from Brock Staller to close the gap to 10-16 in the 57th minute.



Maintaining their resilience, the Seawolves continued to attack up field and drive the Raptors into their own territory. A penalty against the Seawolves stalled their momentum though and allowed Glendale to convert a penalty kick for 3 more points, taking their lead to 19-0 with 10 minutes to play.



In true Seawolves fashion, the squad doubled down on their efforts and played a full 80. Following a scrum 5 meters out from the Raptors tryline, center George Barton took an offload from Phil Mack and spun his way past multiple tackles to touch it down and end the game with a final score of 19-15.



The Seawolves now begin their bye week and set their sights on May 12 for when they travel to New Orleans to play against the NOLA Gold at 10AM PST. Northwest fans may watch by tuning into ROOT Sports, domestic viewers can catch the game via the ESPN+ streaming app, and International viewers can watch the stream via Major League Rugby’s Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow the Seattle Seawolves on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the latest news on Seattle’s newest professional sports team.



ABOUT THE SEATTLE SEAWOLVES

A founding member of Major League Rugby (MLR), the Seattle Seawolves kick off their inaugural season in 2018 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington. With an ownership group led by Seattle-based entrepreneurs Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner, the organization strives to develop, cultivate and expand the game of rugby in the U.S. while fostering discipline, duty, respect and a spirit of inclusion both on and off the pitch. Through community outreach efforts, the Seattle Seawolves fulfill a key pillar of the franchise’s philosophy, enriching the Puget Sound region’s youth through engagement, leadership, and service. Select Major League Rugby games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network as part of an exclusive, multi-year television partnership between MLR and the television network. Season tickets are now on sale; to purchase, please visit www.SeattleSeawolves.com.

Media Contacts:



Carly MacKinnon, Carly@SeattleSeawolves.com

Marketing & PR Coordinator, Seattle Seawolves