Efficient and dynamic play helps Seawolves hold off Rugby Atlanta comeback
By Charles Hamaker
Tukwila, WA – Our Seattle Seawolves continue to establish their identity as an efficient team that can enforce their will when needed, doing so in key moments to defeat Rugby Atlanta. Only the second time that these two teams have faced each other in the history of MLR and the first time the Seawolves have won, Seattle took control early with a Jordan Chait penalty goal kick and maintained that control throughout the rest of the 80 minutes of the match. Chait continues to be a critical part of this team's success through the first two weeks, but he did miss his first kick of the season after nailing his first eleven. Seattle begins the season with a 2-0 record for the second time in franchise history, doing so last year.
Seattle flyhalf Jordan Chait converts a penalty goal kick (Photo by Liz Wolter)
Chait’s streak hits its peak
Seattle flyhalf Jordan Chait, a 26-year-old in his first year with the club, has been a valuable offseason addition as the team chases it’s third MLR title. The flyhalf has now tallied 31 points for Seattle, and his kick streak to begin the season sadly came to an end. A big part of what the Seawolves are doing this season is taking the points off penalties when they have the opportunity, and Chait has been the conductor that has kept the current of offense flowing. Nailing his first eleven kicks, Chait saw his streak end at the 68-minute mark on a penalty goal kick. Two minutes later, Riekert Hattingh’s try brought Chait another opportunity, but his conversion attempt clanged off an upright.
I don’t at all want the end of the paragraph to seem like I am ragging on Chait at all, just telling the story of the way that this game played out. It is important to stop and acknowledge the hot start that the South African back got off too. Again, like I mentioned following the week one win over New York, Chait was signed late into the preseason right as the club was really getting back together before scrimmages began. Seeing him contribute at this clip despite not being around for most of the offseason speaks to the ability and fit that Chait has with this team.
Defense shows flashes but room to improve remains
Seattle played a relatively solid game defensively, like that of week one against the talented Rugby New York roster, but there was a bit of a bend towards the end. The Seawolves “Seawall” defense showed out through much of the match but got caught on a few response attacks by Atlanta. Four minutes after JP Smith had found an opening a rumbled for the first try of the game, giving Seattle a ten-point lead, Atlanta marched right down the field and found a try of their own to bring things within three points at the half. In the second half, Atlanta answered both of Riekert Hattingh’s tries with some of their own, giving this game more intensity.
Perhaps the biggest issue to improve upon from this match would be those response tries that Seattle gave up. The little resistance that the Seawolves showed just minutes after scoring a try is slightly concerning, and yes, it is only week two, but don’t let that become a habit. Atlanta isn’t necessarily this juggernaut of a club, so their ability to move the ball down without really being slowed down to score those three tries draws some worry. Clean that up, and we should see this Seattle team continue to march on through the regular season.
What’s next?
After two home matches to start their 2023 campaign, the Seawolves will head on the road for the first time this season when they travel to Dallas to battle the Jackals. Match start for the March 3rd battle is at 5:05PM PST, as Seattle looks to tie last year's mark for best start in franchise history at 3-0. Dallas’ week two matchup against the San Diego Legion has yet to be played as of the time that this article is being published, but the Jackals did suffer a week one loss to the Houston SaberCats by a margin of 21 points. Speaking of margins, in Seattle’s two matches against Dallas last season, they outscored the Jackals 108-19. That includes a historic 74-7 complete dismantling.