Day: June 8, 2025

2025 – RD 17: Seattle Seawolves v Miami Sharks

The final match of the 2025 MLR Regular Season is the Fish Bowl! The Seattle Seawolves host the Miami Sharks to conclude both teams’ regular seasons at Starfire Stadium. The Seattle Seawolves are battling tooth and nail with the San Diego Legion over the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and a bonus point win in this game would be enough to clinch it. They are coming off a defeat to New England where they managed to pick up two bonus points despite their 3-game win streak coming to an end. The Miami Sharks are flying high after clinching their first ever playoff spot with a road victory over the San Diego Legion, actually doing the Seawolves a favour.

These teams have only met once before, with the Seattle Seawolves taking a 29-18 victory back in 2024. This game gave the Sharks an opportunity to rest some of their heavy hitters, and they fielded a very rotated roster which worked in the Seattle Seawolves favour. The hosts struck early through Malembe Mpofu and held the lead almost the entire game. The Sharks kept it close for the majority of the match, although Seattle had the remarkable ability of scoring against the run of play which they did multiple times. The scoreline got away from teh Sharks towards the end, with Miami unable to add any points in the final half hour of play. Both teams will now look ahead to the postseason, as the Seattle Seawolves squeak in at the expense of the San Diego Legion, and will face the Utah Warriors at Zion’s Bank. The Miami Sharks will play their first ever playoff game against the New England Free Jacks in Quincy.

2025 – RD 17: Houston SaberCats v Anthem RC

Following a Wednesday night clash with Chicago during the week, the SaberCats travel back to Houston to host Anthem RC at SaberCats Stadium to conclude their 2025 Regular Season, on a tight turnaround of only 4 days. The SaberCats were already destined to play Ruygby FC LA in the conference semifinals next week, but a win here would give them home advantage and snap a 2-game skid to give them some confidence heading into the postseason. Anthem RC are looking to avoid their 2nd consecutive 0-16 season, and have already been long eliminated from playoff contention. These teams have met twice in the past, with the SaberCats taking both previous meetings.

This game proved to be a slog in the Houston humidity. A superb Drake Davis solo effort gave the SaberCats the lead, and AJ Alatimu’s conversion were the only scores in the first half, with Houston leading 7-0 at home. The 2nd half opened up a little more, with Anthem RC pulling level before Houston hit back almost immediately. This happened twice before Houston finally took the lead and kept it, securing the try bonus point and a 26-14 victory to secure home advantage for the playoffs. Anthem RC head to the off season with another 0-16 season and just 5 pts (fewer than last year).