MLR Week 2 Results: Seattle Defeat Utah, Nakai Penny Try Video; LA Down Arrows; Wins for Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, New York
Week 2 kicks off Thursday evening in Seattle, on Friday the Toronto Arrows host LA in Langford. There are four games slated for Saturday. We’ll track the Canadians in the team lists.
THURSDAY
Seattle Seawolves 20 v Utah Warriors 17 @ Starfire Stadium 19:30 PT
Utah have no Canadians in the match 23, last week Emerson Prior was a reserve front row but he doesn’t show up this week. Olive Kilifi who played for Seattle in the BC Premier is on the reserves bench at prop for Utah.
For Seattle Nakai Penny keeps his openside starting role, Travis Larsen again is on the bench as a loose forward replacement. Reid Watkins gets his first appearance as the reserve scrum half.
Seattle currently sit in 3rd place in the Western Conference after round 1 while Utah are in 5th.
Nakai Penny scores try in Seattle win, video below.
FRIDAY
Toronto Arrows 16 v LA Giltinis 31 @ Starlight Stadium 19:00 PT
LA starts Ben Lesage at outside centre, he’ll be going up against his old team. Corey Thomas starts at #8, Djustice Sears-Duru at loosehead prop. Still no sign of DTH or their standout standoff Matt Giteau. LA although defending champions lost to Houston in the opening round.
Toronto haven’t released their roster at the time of writing. There was supposed to be a Pacific Pride v Westshore curtain raiser but that match has been moved to Saturday @ Westshore 2:30pm.
UPDATE: Toronto released their roster and it sees a only a few changes from last week, Keith and Quattrin remain in the front row. Baillie is moved from second row to blindside flanker, Ciulini comes into the second row with Sheppard. Rumball remains at openside. The halfbacks remain the same Braude and Kelly. Spencer Jones remains at inside centre and Richardson at wing. Conor McCann at fullback is replaced by Uruguayan Gaston Mieres. So 10 Canadian starters for the Arrows. On the bench are McRogers, Rowland, Wadden, Flesch, O’Neill and Voralek.
SATURDAY
San Diego Legion 37 v Dallas Jackals 29 @ Torero Stadium 13:00 PT
Mike Smith is in the reserves for San Diego backing up the loose forwards.
Moe Abdelmonem is the starting #7 for Dallas and is selected as captain.
Austin Gilgronis 57 v Old Glory DC 12 @ Bold Stadium 17:00 PT
There are no Canadians in the starting XV for Austin, bench has not been named.
For Old Glory Doug Fraser starts at #13 and Jake Ilnicki is on the bench as prop reserve.
Houston SaberCats 7 v Rugby New York 10 @ Aveva Stadium 17:00 PT
Houston has Rob Povey in the reserves.
New York has Andrew Coe starting on the wing, no sign of Quinn Ngawati.
New Orleans Gold 9 v Rugby ATL 14 @ Gold Mine 17:00 PT
Eric Howard is starting hooker for NOLA
Matt Heaton captains the Atlanta side from #7, Conor Keys is on the bench.
WEEK 1 ALL STARS
Country of Origin (4 SA, 4 USA, 3 Argentina, 3 NZ, 1 Ireland)
1 Argentina
2 South Africa
3 Argentina
4 USA
5 South Africa
6 USA
7 South Africa
8 USA (via SA)
9 USA
10 New Zealand
11 Argentina
12 South Africa
13 Ireland
14 New Zealand
15 New Zealand
WEEK 2 ALL STARS
Country of Origin (4 SA, 4 USA, 3 Australia, 1 NZ, 1 Samoa, 1 Fiji, 1 Canada)
1 South Africa
2 New Zealand
3 South Africa
4 Fiji (eligible USA)
5 South Africa
6 Australia
7 Canada
8 USA (via SA)
9 Australia
10 South Africa
11 Samoa
12 Australia
13 USA
14 USA
15 USA