Hounds Score 59 Points in Win over Seawolves

SEATTLE, Wa.- The Chicago Hounds remained unbeaten on Friday night, beating the Seattle Seawolves 59-22 under the lights at Starfire Stadium. Fullback Brock Webster led all scorers with 15 points via three tries, while flanker Mason Flesch continued his run of impressive play. Not to be outdone by their Canadian teammates, flanker Lucas Rumball and No. 8 Matt Oworu also touched down for tries. Chicago finished the night with nine tries and seven successful conversions.

The Hounds capitalized on an early Seawolves yellow card. Webster got the scoring started early, touching down his first try of the night less than five minutes into the game. Minutes later, the Hounds won a penalty and kicked for the corner. After a successful lineout throw, the maul got to working from a short distance. In the end, Rumball touched it down for Chicago’s first try of the night. Flyhalf Chris Hilsenbeck’s kick was good, extending the lead to 12-0 less than 10 minutes into the game.

In the 12th minute, Seattle scored their first points of the night via a penalty goal from Davey Coetzer. They would need more than penalty goals to stop the Hounds tonight, however. Mason Flesch dotted down the first of his two tries just three minutes later, breaking through a few lazy Seawolf tackle attempts to score between the sticks. Hilsenbeck slotted the conversion attempt and Chicago’s lead grew to 16, 19-3, before the first-half water break.

Seattle showed life before that water-break whistle would come, though, scoring a try through flanker Paddy Ryan. Coetzer nailed the conversion, giving the Seattle faithful a glimmer of hope. The Hounds ensured it was fleeting though, answering back with wing Mark O’Keeffe’s third try of the season right around the half hour mark. Flesch scored his second try minutes later and with a successful conversion attempt, it was now 31-10 in favor of Chicago.

Webster added his second at the stroke of halftime in spectacular fashion. Outside center Tiaan Loots, making his Hounds debut, stripped a Seattle ball carrier while Chicago was deep in their own defensive zone. He passed it out quickly to O’Keeffe, who ran a few meters down the sideline before kicking the ball over the Seattle defense. The ball just barely stayed in bounds, but Webster scooped and scored for an outstanding Chicago try in the corner of the endzone. Hilsenbeck nailed the tough conversion attempt and the visiting Chicago team entered the locker room at halftime with a commanding 38-10 lead.

Moments after the second half began, Webster made it a hat-trick, scoring his third try of the evening. Hilsenbeck added the points-after attempt yet again before being replaced by reserve flyhalf Reece Botha. In the 50th minute, Oworu scored the first try of his Major League Rugby career. With Botha now at the kicking tee, he converted the attempt, and Chicago passed the 50-point mark for the second consecutive week.

Hooker Theo Fourie finished the Hounds’ scoring in the 57th minute with a try of his own, extending his scoring streak to three games. Botha hit the conversion attempt, concluding the Hounds’ scoring for the evening.

Seattle showed life in the closing quarter of the game, scoring a pair of tries and one conversion finish the night at 22.

The win marked the first time Chicago beat Seattle, going into the game with an 0-4 historical record against the Seawolves. The Hounds will stay atop the MLR standings table, moving to 4-0 and scoring another five table points. They now turn their attention to a home game against Old Glory DC next Sunday evening at 5:30 PM CT.

CHI: 59

SEA: 22

Scoring:

Tries: Brock Webster (3), Mason Flesch (2), Lucas Rumball, Mark O’Keeffe, Matt Oworu, Theo Fourie

Conversions: Chris Hilsenbeck (5/7), Reece Botha (2/2)