The Seattle Seawolves host the Utah Warriors in a Western Conference clash at Starfire Stadium.

With both teams fighting for the playoffs, it was bound to be an entertaining contest that did not disappoint. The Seawolves emerged as 27-20 victors, but not before Utah’s Joe Mano scored his 13th & 14th tries of the 2023 season to give him the lead in the try scoring race with 2 games to go!

Even though they were denied the 4 try bonus point, Seattle still clinched their spot in the playoffs, and are the only team left challenging the San Diego Legion for the #1 spot in the West and that bye to the Conference Finals! The Warriors did pick up a valuable losing bonus point, but now need to win both their remaining games to give themselves the best spot at the post-season, and hope that Houston slip up.

The Seattle Seawolves host the newly named Rugby New York Ironworkers at Starfire Stadium, in a repeat of the 2022 MLR final.

Unlike the 2022 MLR final the result, much like the venue, was Seattle’s. A kicking duel between MLR debutant Jordan Chait and MLR veteran Sam Windsor (hunting down 500 in the competition) was the story well into the second half, with Seattle leading by 4 penalties to 2 (12-6) by the 50th minute.

This is when 2022’s Top MLR try scorer opened his account for 2023. Ed Fidow scoring the first try of the season for both himself, and New York. The conversion was missed however, so with the score now 12-11 to the hosts New York had to keep hammering on the famous Seawall, which held firm. Chait slotted two more penalties whenever Seattle could get into kicking range, to bring the score to 18-11 before Duncan Matthews broke through in the 77th minute for a 7pt try that sealed the game.

There is still a lot of rugby left to play, but Seattle claimed their revenge on New York, on this occasion.

The Seattle Seawolves host the San Diego Legion at Starfire Stadium in the 2022 Western Eliminator. The surprise fixture is a result of both the LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis disqualification from the 2022 season, bumping the Seawolves and the Legion into playoff spots.

The Legion got off to a dream start, with scrum-half Nate Augspurger charging down a Seattle clearance and, after a Legion scrum, slipped between two defenders for the opening try which was easily converted by Joe Pietersen. The Seawolves struck back quickly, with 2 AJ Alatimu penalties sandwiching a Sam Matenga try from a rolling maul, also converted by Alatimu. The reeling Legion had more back news after they lost a lineout on their own throw, resulting in a Duncan Matthews try in the corner. Alatimu added the 2 and the score was suddenly 7-20 to the hosts. The final score of the first half came just before the half-hour mark, a Ma’a Nonu break almost put Michael Smith in for a score, but was held just short. Tevita Tameilau finally powered over and Pietersen added the 2 to bring the Legion within 6, and the score remained 14-20 into the break.

The Seawolves struck first in the second half through the boot of Alatimu once again, shortly before Riekert Hattingh was handed a yellow card for a high tackle to put Seattle down to 14 for 10 minutes. The Legion lineout failed however, giving away possession and allowing Seattle to clear, followed about 5 minutes later by another 3pts from Alatimu. The real nail in the coffin came from an up & under kicked and recovered by Duncan Matthews. Alatimu almost finished it himself but came up just short, allowing the forwards to finish it themselves for a 7pt try through a driving maul credited to Travis Larsen. The Seawolves didn’t take their foot off the gas, with Ross Neal crossing for their 4th of the game. Alatimu was accurate as ever to take the score to 40-14, all but over. The Legion claimed a consolation try a few minutes from the final whistle, but their season would end here.

Seattle will progress to the Western Conference Final to face the surprise #1 seed in the West, the Houston SaberCats.

The Houston SaberCats travel to the PNW to face the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire Stadium, with the opportunity to clinch their first ever playoff berch.

The SaberCats needed to win or secure both bonus points in order to secure their first ever playoff berth, and it was a close run thing. The Seawolves cruised to the try BP with 4 tries by the half hour mark, and were ahead by a score of 29-7 at half time, giving the SaberCats a mountain to climb in the second half.

Louritz van der Schyff hit back early before Martin Iosefo bagged his 2nd of the night for Seattle in the 48th minute. The back and forth continued as Christian Dyer gave Houston their 3rd try of the game with the score at 36-19 in favour of Seattle as the game entered it’s last quarter. The SaberCats’ chances of a win were snuffed out when Mzamo Majola scored Seattle’s 6th try of the night in the 70th minute which was converted by AJ Alatimu to extend the lead to 43-19. Despite the mounting scoreline, the SaberCats refused to give up, with Nick Boyer scoring Houston’s bonus point try in the 75th minute, converted by Robbie Povey. This was followed almost immediately by another try by Zach Pangelinan, again converted by Povey.

The score now stood at 43-33 with under 2 minutes to play. Houston had secured the try BP and only needed to draw within 7pts of Seattle to secure their spot in the post-season. With the clock in the red, Seattle gave away a penalty and Povey stepped up to the mark again and made no mistakes. With the last kick of the game, Povey brought the score to 43-36 and although they lost the game, the Houston SaberCats secured the 2 points required to make the playoffs for the first time in club history.