The Seattle Seawolves (#2) host the San Diego Legion (#3) in the Western Conference Final in the latest chapter of MLR’s most storied rivalry, for a spot in the Western Conference Final. This game marks the SEVENTEENTH meeting between the two original teams, and the 5th in the MLR Playoffs. The Legion held a 7-5 record in regular season meetings, but the Seattle Seawolves had the upper hand in the post season, with a 3-1 record heading into this game.

The early game scoring was an exchange of penalties, with Matt Giteau nailing two penalties, sandwiching a Mack Mason kick to give the Legion a 3-6 lead before Duncan Matthews got on the end of a kick through to give the hosts the first try of the game and an 8-6 lead. Marcel Brache was handed a yellow card for a challenge in the air just before the first water break, and Mason extended Seattle’s lead to 11-6. The Legion managed to hold off the Seawolves with a man down, but Rhyno Herbst broke through just as it expired to further extend the lead to 18-6 following the conversion. The Legion didn’t look like breaching the famous ‘Sea Wall’ at all in the first half, but Giteau added another 3 to close the gap to 9pts at the half-time whistle following around 12 minutes of bruising play from both sides.

The Second half started as the first ended. bruising plays and each team trying to get the upper hand, with both defences holding firm. A deliberate knock-on from Seattle sent Tavite Lopeti to the bin for 10 minutes at the 2nd water break, and the Legion capitalised with a rolling maul try shortly after. The hosts hit back following a great run out wide from Toni Pulu, who kicked it through for Tomas Aoake to gather which he did so illegally so the ref had no choice but to award a penalty try to Seattle and send Aoake to the bin for 10. The Legion returned to the Seawolves half after the restart and after throwing it wide, a clear and obvious deliberate knock-on was missed by both the officials and the TMO allowing Seattle to gather possession and clear their lines, with which they flipped the field and Pago Haini added a 4th for the hosts to all but finish the game, now leading 30-14 with 5 minutes to go. Aoake would redeem his earlier mistake with a great finish in the corner in the 78th minute, and with the clock in the red the Legion would score again with a penalty try of their own, but it was too little too late for San Diego.

The Seattle Seawolves advance to face the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Final with a spot in the MLR Championship final up for grabs. The final score of 30-28 flatters the San Diego Legion, who didn’t look like they would break the Seattle Defence for the vast majority of this game, but having faced more turnaround in their squad during the offseason than any other team in MLR, they can be happy with a successful season, as much as they would’ve liked to finish it with a Shield.

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.

Anthem RC, USA Rugby’s development team in MLR, travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Seawolves at the fortress-like Starfire Sports Complex.

The Dallas Jackals travel to the PNW to face the Seattle Seawolves at the formidable Starfire Stadium.

The Seattle Seawolves continue to establish themselves as the clutch team for 2024 as, down 31-32 with a minute to go, Mack Mason slots a penalty kick to steal the victory from the Jackals at the death. The Jackals pick up two points but will be disappointed to come away without the victory, especially with an historic performance from Canadian-South African hooker Dewald Kotze, who scored all FIVE Jackals tries from the maul. Kotze’s 5-try game sets a new MLR single game record, surpassing the 4 tries scored by Dean Muir for the Houston SaberCats against Old Glory DC in 2022.

The Houston SaberCats travel up to the PNW to take on the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire Stadium. Both teams came into this game undefeated in 2024, with 3-0 records. The SaberCats have never won in Seattle, and the Seawolves did not take it easy.

A first half blitz put the visitors up 8-23 at the half, before exchanging tries early in the second half. The Seawolves fought back to 27-28 at the 60 minute mark, before the game really started to open up in the Washington rain. The Cats’ bit back and grew their lead once more, to 30-42 within the last 10 minutes thanks in part to an interception try by Tautalatasi Tasi, his 2nd interception try in 4 games. The hosts would not give in, and scored 2 tries in the last 6 minutes including a final minute score by Jade Stighling to bring the score back to 40-42 with the conversion to come.

The final kick of the game, for a potential draw, sailed agonisingly wide. The final score 40-42 to the visitors. The Houston SaberCats advance to 4-0 and become the last undefeated team in MLR, claiming their first ever win at Starfire in an 82pt slobberknocker.

The San Diego Legion travel up the west coast to face long-time rivals, the Seattle Seawolves in the first game of the 2024 season for both sides.

The game proved to be a battle of attrition. both teams trading penalties for the first half, with Mack Mason scoring the first points of the campaign for Seattle, and Josh Henderson doing the same for the Legion. The hosts led 12-9 at the half, with the scoring coming entirely from the boots of Mason and Henderson.

The Seawolves stretched their lead to 18-9 through 2 more penalties, before the Legion fought their way back into the game as Henderson dotted down for a try which he them converted himself. Shortly afterwards, the Seawolves conceded a penalty just inside the Legion half and Henderosn stepped up once again, just about slotting it and shushed the crowd having given the Legion a late 18-19 lead. Fortunately for the hosts, they struck back with the clock winding down, and Tavite Lopeti broke through a gap to score Seattle’s first try of the season and snatching the victory for the Seawolves. Mason added the conversion to bring his total to 20pts on the night as the Seawolves defeat the San Diego Legion 25-19 in front of a home crowd.

MLR’s most prolific playoff team the Seattle Seawolves host the Houston SaberCats at Starfire Stadium in the 2023 Western Conference Eliminator.

The SaberCats had a clear plan of hemming in the Seawolves, which yielded results early as Davy Coetzer found a hole, but this try was called back for obstruction and Seattle were able to clear. The first points of the game came after the hydration break via a penalty kick from AJ Alatimu, before the ‘Cats reverted to their game plan which again yielded results which stuck this time. The Seawolves were pinged for collapsing at two lineouts and Sam Matenga was handed a yellow card. Seattle were again penalised for a shoulder charge and Dillon Smit went quick with a pass to Akina unmarked who found paydirt. Davy Coetzer nailed the conversion from the side for the full 7, and a Houston lead.

It didn’t take long for the Seawolves to strike back, as they found possession straight from their own kickoff. They kept up the pressure until Charles Elton found a gap from close range to restore the Seattle lead, which was extended by AJ Alatimu to 10-7 for the home side. There was another blow to Houston just before the half, as Marno Redelinghuys took a man out without the ball which the TMO caught. Seattle went for the corner and won their own lineout before AJ Alatimu stabbed a grubber through which found Adriaan Carelse for a dot down under the posts. The full 7pt try meant that the hosts took a 17-7 lead into the sheds.

Another mistake from kickoff by the ‘Cats kept the momentum with the Seawolves, and AJ Alatimu (that man again!) punished them with another 3pts. Ronan Foley found a huge line break not long after, but an infringement save the ‘Cats this time, but only for a short time as an off the ball tackle gave Alatimu another chance at the posts, which he took for another 3.

Gideon van Wyk gave some life to the visitors by winning a breakdown turnover. Coetzer put a booming kick downfield and there was nobody home to gather, and Coetzer finished in the corner before converting his own score to bring the score back to 23-14. Van Wyk again sparked something for the visitors, grabbing an interception and handing the ball to Dillon Smit who hoofed it downfield, but it found the edge of the playing area before the thundering SaberCats chasers could reach it and the Seawolves had a dropout to clear their lines, with which Gerrie Labuschagne immediately attempted a drop goal which sailed wide before the pause for the hydration break. After this break, Labuschagne chipped a ball over the top which bounced funny off of his head straight to Gideon van Wyk who reached out to score another for Houston. Converted by Coetzer, it was now a 2pt game.

It was at this point that the Seattle Seawolves appeared to stop playing with their food. Their forwards started going through the phases and captain Riekert Hattingh, on his return from injury, dotted down. With Alatimu automatic from the tee, the hosts led 30-21 with 10 minutes remaining. Hattingh again picked up and made ground off a Houston mistake before feeding to JP Smith to seal the victory despite the SaberCats scoring a consolation try with the clock in the red. The Seawolves advance to the Western Conference Final to face the juggernaut San Diego Legion at Snapdragon Stadium. Houston turn their attention to the offseason and 2024.