Day: June 9, 2024

2024 – RD 15: Seattle Seawolves v Utah Warriors

The Seattle Seawolves host the Utah Warriors at Starfire Stadium in a Western Conference clash. With RFCLA having already played and lost, the Seawolves only needed to secure a win to clinch their spot in the 2024 MLR Playoffs.

The Warriors have struggled mightily in the first half this season, and that was very true in this game. With a number of reinforcements returning from injury, the Seawolves ran riot for the first 40, scoring 6 tries and 42pts to completely blow the Warriors away. Starting the second half already down 42-10, the Warriors did put in a valiant effort for the 2nd 40, and the 2nd half score was 26-19. Unfortunately for Utah, the score still looked ugly, with the Seawolves taking a comfortable 68-29 victory to clinch their playoff spot!

Seattle winger Jade Stighling recorded 4 tries and 22pts in this game, becoming the 3rd player in MLR history to record over 3 tries scored in a single game (after Dean Muir scored 4 in 2023 and Dewald Kotze scored 5 earlier in 2024). This was also the 43rd hattrick in MLR history and the 6th in Seawolves team history! On the other hand, this was the most points ever conceded by the Utah Warriors, who’s 2024 playoff aspirations are hanging by a thread.

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2024 – RD 15: Dallas Jackals v Chicago Hounds

The Dallas Jackals, sporting their Texas-themed City Edition jerseys, host the Chicago Hounds at Choctaw Stadium.

The visitors got on the board first through Kian Meadon, a successful penalty on his Hounds debut. The Jackals would be first over the whitwash however, as Jason Tidwell tore down the wing and finished in the corner to give the Jackals their first lead of the game. The Hounds would hit back through Mason Flesch, restoring a narrow 3pt lead for the guests at the first water break. Both sides struggled with discipline over the next 20 and neither was able to shift the scoreboard before the half time whistle.

Minutes into the 2nd half, the hosts turned on the gas and Sam Tuifua rampaged through for a 2nd Dallas score, a 7-pointer! This was followed 3 minutes later by another cracking try, finished by Juan-Dee Oliver to suddenly give the Jackals a 19-8 lead early int he 2nd half, which was extended through a Martin Elias penalty! The Hounds, slightly shellshocked and now down 22-8, were able to compose themselves and get back into the game, halting the Jackals onslaught before hitting back with a try of their own through Charlie Abel from close range shortly before the 2nd half water break.

The game bogged down at this point, with both sides struggling in the heat and humidity, and unable to make anything happen to change the scoreboard until, with 5 minutes to go and seemingly out of nowhere, MLR rookie Noah Brown crashed through a number of would-be tacklers to bring the Hounds within 4. Carelse nailed the conversion, now 2pts down with minutes to play. The Hounds tried twice to get Carelse in a position for a drop goal, but both times the Jackals chargers forced him to abort, eventually forcing a knock-on that would end the game.

This win is a huge step for the Jackals’ playoff aspirations, especially given that Utah and LA both lost in the West. In the East, the Hounds are still sat in 3rd and in a playoff spot, but it’s an uneasy one with DC right behind and the Miami Sharks still lurking.

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2024 – RD 15: Miami Sharks v NOLA Gold

The Miami Sharks host the NOLA Gold at Autonation Sports Field in Fort Lauderdale, in an Eastern Conference Southern Showdown.

The NOLA Gold had the chance to clinch their first playoff spot in club history with a win here, as long as they didn’t let the Sharks pick up 2+ points in the standings. The warm Florida weather and very high humidity made this game a bit of a slog for both sides, and the Sharks seemed more at home early on. Scoring was hard to come by, with NOLA opening their account first, 22 minutes in. despite falling 0-3 down, Santiago Videla levelled the score with a penalty of his own 5 minutes later, and it looked as though we would head for the sheds with the score at only 3-3, but a Tomas Inciarte try on the stroke of HT gave the hosts the lead into the second frame.

This lead wouldn’t last long however, as Augusto Bohme would hit back 4 minutes into the 2nd half, and Dorian Jones made no mistakes with the conversion to level the game up once more, at 10-10. Videla’s boot would be called on once more a few minutes later, restoring a slim Sharks lead before a flurry of substitutions from both sides. The difference came just before the hour mark, when a Malcolm May score gave the Gold the lead and they defended it well. The conversion from Jones was on target again, and he would add a penalty with 5 minutes left in the game as an insurance marker, and the Sharks weren’t able to respond.

The NOLA Gold will be heading to the MLR Playoffs for the first time in their history, the only remaining founding member club to have not made it before this season.

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2024 – RD 15: San Diego Legion v Anthem RC

The San Diego Legion host Anthem RC at Snapdragon Stadium in a cross-conference clash that could see the San Diego Legion clinch their 2024 playoff stop, depending on the result of other games.

The hosts came out flying, with both wingers dotting down within the first 10 minutes, before Cliven Loubser hit back for Anthem, the frenetic start leaving the score on 12-7 to San Diego just 12 minutes in. Both teams settled into the game and it was 20 minutes until the next score, when MLR veteran Mikey Te’o extended the Legion’s lead. McClutchie nailed the conversion and HT arrived with a score of 19-7.

The heat may have slowed the pace of the game, and the second half started with plenty of back and forth before the guests opened the half’s account with a penalty kick to bring them within 9pts, but a minute lated the Legion secured the try BP with a Tiaan Loots score to extend their lead once again, now 26-10. James Vaifale’s second of the game was an insurance marker for the Legion 15 minutes later, taking the score to an unflattering 31-10, and San Diego seemed to relax slightly. with 6 minutes to go, Anthem added 2 quick scores in as many minutes to bring the score to 31-24 and within losing BP range, and raise the Legion’s heart rates. In the final minutes, Josh Henderson slotted a penalty to maintain the gap and secure the BP win in front of a home crowd.

The San Diego Legion had done all they could to clinch a 2024 playoff spot, and relied on both RFCLA and the Utah Warriors losing to secure their spot, which they did. 2023’s runners-up secure their place in the 2024 Championship Series, looking to go one step further.

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