NEWS

News Apr-9-2019

Week 11 Awards: Ryberg lifts resilient Raptors in slugfest while Seawolves pile on 48 points in road win

MLR announces Player, Team and First XV of Week 11

Salt Lake City, UT; March 12, 2019: Prolific Glendale Raptors wing John Ryberg added three more tries to his collection during his side’s 32-point comeback victory over the Houston SaberCats, earning the winger the Week 11 Player of the Week Award. The Seattle Seawolves secured the Week 11 Team of the Week Award after scoring 26 unanswered points to overcome a 12-point deficit away at the Utah Warriors.

The Raptors trailed 32-0 after 34 minutes at home against the SaberCats. Ryberg, the 5-foot-11, 235-lb wing, initiated his side’s comeback with a bruising 50-meter run to the line, stiff-arming two defenders to the ground in the process. Five minutes later, Ryberg collected a pass just inside the 22-meter line and was tackled to the ground. The relentless Raptor immediately regained his feet before breaking four tackles and dragging the fifth defender over the try-line, bringing the score to 14-32 at the break. The Raptors cashed in on the momentum in the second half, taking the lead for the first time after 66 minutes. It was Ryberg who sealed the Raptors’ comeback 75 minutes in, outstripping Houston’s despairing defense on another huge run, notching his hat-trick try while giving his team a lead they would not relinquish. Ryberg leads Major League Rugby with nine tries in the 2019 season, while the Raptors’ 52-44 win moved them to second place in the league.

The Seattle Seawolves are a second-half team. For the fifth time this season, the defending champions battled from behind and escaped with a victory, this time defeating the Utah Warriors 48-36 in Zions Bank Stadium. The Warriors held a 22-17 lead at halftime, then added seven more points three minutes into the second period, Gannon O’Moore setting up Tim O’Malley for a try. The Seawolves responded with four unanswered tries, dominating possession while nullifying the Warrior offense. Seawolves’ star wing Brock Staller tallied a game-high 18 points with a try, five conversions and one penalty goal. Staller leads MLR with 106 points on the season. Bradley Tucker added two tries of his own and set up Sequoyah Burke-Combs for the go-ahead try. With the win, the Seawolves sit fourth in the standings on 32 points.

MLR First XV for Week 11:

Loosehead Prop, Franco Van Den Berg (Utah Warriors)
Hooker, Stephan Coetzee (Seattle Seawolves)
Tighthead Prop, Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion
Left Lock, Mike Sheppard (Toronto Arrows)
Right Lock, Brad Tucker (Seattle Seawolves)
Blindside Flanker, Psalm Wooching (San Diego Legion)
Openside Flanker, Lance Williams (Utah Warriors)
No 8., Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows)
Scrum-half, Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion)
Fly-half, Sam Windsor (Houston SaberCats)
Left Wing, Ryan Matyas (San Diego Legion)
Inside Center, Tim O’Malley (Utah Warriors)
Outside Center, Tristan Blewett (New Orleans Gold)
Right Wing, John Ryberg (Glendale Raptors)
Fullback, Mat Turner (Seattle Seawolves)

About MLR

MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.

The teams competing in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. Agreements are already in place to add at least a further three teams from major North American markets for Season 3.