Utah Warriors Travel To Seattle For Western Division Battle

Jun 5, 2021, 11:13 AM | Updated: Dec 7, 2022, 3:23 pm

Utah Warriors player carries rugby ball...

(Courtesy of Utah Warriors)

Sports Producer

HERRIMAN, Utah – The Utah Warriors are on the road this Sunday, June 6, to take on the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire Sports Facility, in Tukwila, Washington.

Saturday’s match will mark the sixth time that Utah and Seattle have faced off, with the Seawolves holding the series lead 3-1-1.

Coming off a bye week in Week 11, Seattle enters the game with a record of 2-7 as the Seawolves currently sit in last in Major League Rugby’s Western Division with 12 table points. Despite their record, Warriors Head Coach Shawn Pittman knows that Seattle still poses a difficult challenge to Utah.

“Seattle’s core group of players have been around the block and know how to win games,” said Pittman. “They’re a Physical side that has the ability to shift the ball around when they need to play an expansive game. Our forwards are going to have their work cut out for them. Seattle is a very good set piece team and we need to be strong in this aspect to be in contention to win this game.”

Headed north west toward the Sea Wall!

Drop a shout out below for your Warriors and that Guerilla Squad!#ForTheNation // SEAvUTAH pic.twitter.com/Q7KrCZm30R

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 5, 2021

Utah enters the match in second-place in MLR’s Western Division with a 5-5 record and 31 table points. Warriors Assistant Coach hopes that Utah can continue their success on the offensive side of the ball following a victory over Austin in which the Warriors scored 45 points against the league’s top defense.

“As a team we are extremely excited to have another shot at Seattle,” said Davies. “We feel like we let ourselves down at home when we played them earlier in the season. The focus on attack for this match will be to have tempo with ball-in-hand. If we’re able to hold onto the ball in their territory, with accuracy and tempo, then good things will happen.”

The fastest forward in rugby ⚡ @usmlr @utwarriorsrugby pic.twitter.com/Hwl7QI5uTe

— The Rugby Network (@therugbynetwork) June 3, 2021

Davies hopes that the Warriors can continue to lean on Calvin Whiting as the Warriors look to avenge their 20-15 loss to Seattle in Week Four.

“Last time we played Seattle at their house it was one of the most exciting games of the season with the Warriors winning in the 90th minute,” said Davies. “In that game, both Calvin and Tyler Fisher played unbelievably well and I’m expecting them both to have a big game again this season. If they’re able to do the basics well and give the guys on the outside time and space we can expect some exciting rugby.”

The Warriors’ trip to Seattle will also be a homecoming for Utah Interim Head Coach Shawn Pittman, who helped lead Seattle to an MLR Championship in 2018.

Headed to the Pacific Northwest this week 🌊

⚔️ Seattle Sewolves
📆 Sunday, June 6
🕗 6 PM MT
📍 Tukwila, Washington
🏟️ Starfire Sports Facility
📺 KSL & The Rugby Network
📻 ESPN 700 & ESPN 960 AM + App #ForTheNation // @usmlr // #SEAvUTAH pic.twitter.com/PSXRN9Qysg

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 3, 2021

“It’s a bit of a homecoming for me,” said Pittman, who grew up in the Seattle area. “I have tons of friends that have already purchased tickets for the game. I worked with Seattle in a Performance Analysis Role the first year of the MLR in 2018 and getting a chance to play the 2-time MLR Champions at their home field will be an amazing experience.”