The NOLA Gold's 49-point, seven-try offensive effort against the Houston SaberCats is the 2019 MLR single-game record, securing the Week 8 Team of the Week Award for the men from Louisiana.
Seattle Seawolves No. 8 Riekert Hattingh put in a tireless performance, leading his team in points scored and completed tackles to scoop the Week 8 Player of the Week Award.
NOLA’s 49 points is the most scored by any side this season, and their third 40-point-plus tally of 2019. NOLA fell behind 6-0 early after two SaberCat penalties, but the team responded with 42 consecutive points and five different try scorers, including a hat-trick from outside center Tristan Blewett. Through six matches played, NOLA ranks first in the league standings while averaging a shade over 35 points-per-game. The dominant victory also featured NOLA’s strongest defensive effort of the season, conceding just 11 points in reply.
Riekert Hattingh, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound 24-year-old bookended the Seawolves’ comeback win by scoring the first and last try of the match for his team. Trailing 14-0 to Austin Elite Rugby and in desperate need of positive momentum, Hattingh picked up from the base of a scrum a few meters from the Austin try-line and muscled through a defender for his first try. His second came in almost identical fashion, the Seawolves electing for a scrum with five minutes remaining from which Hattingh stormed over once again. The game finished 29-17 to the reigning MLR champions from Seattle, Hattingh adding a team-leading eight tackles to his pivotal brace of tries.
MLR’s First XV of Week 8:
Loosehead Prop (No. 1), James Rochford, Rugby United New York
Hooker (No. 2), Dylan Fawsitt, Rugby United New York
Tighthead Prop (No. 3), Paddy Ryan, San Diego Legion
Lock (No. 4), Ben Mitchell, Austin Elite
Lock (No. 5), Brad Tucker, Seattle Seawolves
Blindside Flanker (No. 6), John Quill, Rugby United New York
Openside Flanker (No. 7), Zack Stryffeler, New Orleans Gold
No. 8, Riekert Hattingh, Seattle Seawolves
Scrumhalf (No. 9), Shaun Davies, Glendale Raptors
Flyhalf (No. 10), Sam Malcolm, Toronto Arrows
Wing (No. 11), Harley Davidson, Glendale Raptors
Inside Center (No. 12), Juan Pablo Aguirre, Austin Elite
Outside Center (No. 13), Tristan Blewett, New Orleans Gold
Wing (No. 14), John Ryberg, Glendale Raptors
Fullback (No. 15), Jean-Pierre Eloff, New Orleans Gold