Last Updated on April 13, 2026 2:58 pm by ZUWP Automation
A frenetic first half set the stage as Anthem RC pulled clear in the second period to claim a hard-fought Week 3 victory.
Anthem RC secured their second win of the MLR 2026 Season, defeating Seattle Seawolves 34-25 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in a match that swung dramatically before the break and was ultimately decided by clinical second-half execution. Anthem led 21-18 at half-time after a breathless opening 40 minutes produced five tries between the two sides. A converted try and two penalties from Luke Carty after the interval extended the home side’s advantage and sealed the result.
Match Summary
Anthem drew first blood through Campbell Robb in the seventh minute, with Carty adding the conversion to make it 7-0. Seattle responded with two penalties from Davy Coetzer before taking the lead themselves when Ezekiel Lindenmuth crossed and Coetzer converted to make it 7-13. Anthem hit back immediately, Julian Roberts finishing in the 26th minute and Carty converting to edge the home side back in front at 14-13, only for Paddy Ryan to restore Seattle’s advantage two minutes later. A third home try from Malacchi Esdale in the 31st minute, converted by Carty, sent Anthem into the break leading 21-18.
The second half belonged to Anthem. Will Sherman scored the decisive try on the hour mark, Carty converting to push the lead to 28-18, and a Carty penalty three minutes later made it 31-18. Seattle gave themselves a foothold when Divan Rossouw finished in the 69th minute and Mark Bennett converted, but Anthem’s response was immediate. Carty slotted his second penalty of the half in the 79th minute to seal a nine-point victory and move the home side to second in the standings.
Scoring Timeline
| Minute | Event | Player | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7′ | Try | Campbell Robb | Anthem RC | RC 5-0 |
| 8′ | Conversion | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 7-0 |
| 11′ | Penalty | Davy Coetzer | Seattle Seawolves | RC 7-3 |
| 20′ | Penalty | Davy Coetzer | Seattle Seawolves | RC 7-6 |
| 22′ | Try | Ezekiel Lindenmuth | Seattle Seawolves | RC 7-11 |
| 23′ | Conversion | Davy Coetzer | Seattle Seawolves | RC 7-13 |
| 26′ | Try | Julian Roberts | Anthem RC | RC 12-13 |
| 26′ | Conversion | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 14-13 |
| 28′ | Try | Paddy Ryan | Seattle Seawolves | RC 14-18 |
| 31′ | Try | Malacchi Esdale | Anthem RC | RC 19-18 |
| 32′ | Conversion | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 21-18 |
| 60′ | Try | Will Sherman | Anthem RC | RC 26-18 |
| 61′ | Conversion | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 28-18 |
| 64′ | Penalty | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 31-18 |
| 69′ | Try | Divan Rossouw | Seattle Seawolves | RC 31-23 |
| 70′ | Conversion | Mark Bennett | Seattle Seawolves | RC 31-25 |
| 79′ | Penalty | Luke Carty | Anthem RC | RC 34-25 |
Standout Performances
Divan Rossouw was Seattle’s most influential carrier, covering 82 metres from 11 carries and adding a try in the 69th minute. His work rate with the ball in hand was relentless, and he also contributed 172 kick metres, the highest of any player on the day.
Davy Coetzer contributed 8 points with the boot before leaving the field in the 59th minute, converting Lindenmuth’s try and adding two early penalties to keep Seattle competitive in the first half. He also covered 55 metres from six carries and completed all eight of his tackle attempts.
Paddy Ryan delivered a full 80-minute shift for Seattle, finishing his try in the 28th minute and completing a perfect 10 from 10 tackles. His 37 metres from nine carries added consistent go-forward throughout the contest.
For Anthem, Jordan Trainor covered 32 metres from seven carries and produced an outstanding 53 kick metres, providing territorial control that underpinned the second-half platform. Julian Roberts crossed for a crucial try in the 26th minute and also contributed 39 metres from five carries with two clean breaks, while completing seven of ten tackle attempts.
Rossouw’s 172 kick metres and 82 carrying metres made him the most damaging individual on the park, yet Seattle still left empty-handed as Anthem’s collective second-half discipline proved the difference.
Player Statistics
Key contributors from both squads across the full match.
Anthem RC
| Player | Min | Tries | Carries | Metres | CB | Tackles | TOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Trainor | 80 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 1 | 1/1 | 0 |
| Erich Storti | 33 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 1 | 5/5 | 0 |
| Conner Mooneyham | 80 | 0 | 9 | 44 | 1 | 7/9 | 0 |
| Julian Roberts | 80 | 1 | 5 | 39 | 2 | 7/10 | 0 |
| Johan Momsen | 80 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 8/9 | 0 |
| Moni Tonga’uiha | 49 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 5/5 | 0 |
Seattle Seawolves
| Player | Min | Tries | Carries | Metres | CB | Tackles | TOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divan Rossouw | 80 | 1 | 11 | 82 | 4 | 2/3 | 0 |
| Andre Warner | 80 | 0 | 10 | 82 | 3 | 3/6 | 1 |
| Davy Coetzer | 59 | 0 | 6 | 55 | 3 | 8/8 | 0 |
| Nolan Tuamoheloa | 62 | 0 | 8 | 43 | 2 | 4/6 | 0 |
| Riekert Hattingh | 80 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 0 | 9/9 | 1 |
| Paddy Ryan | 80 | 1 | 9 | 37 | 1 | 10/10 | 0 |
Standings Impact
The victory lifts Anthem RC to second in the MLR 2026 standings on 92 points from three games, with a 2-1 record. They sit one point behind leaders California Legion, who hold 93 points from three games, keeping the top of the table tightly contested.
Seattle, still with only two games played, fall to fourth on 58 points with a 1-1 record. The defeat leaves them 34 points off the pace set by the top two, with ground to make up as the season progresses.
Anthem RC’s 92 points from three games puts them within one point of the league summit, while Seattle’s 58 points from two outings leave them with work to do to break into the top three.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | TF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Legion | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 92 | 14 | 93 |
| 2 | Anthem RC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 84 | 13 | 92 |
| 3 | Chicago Hounds | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 43 | 13 | 81 |
| 4 | Seattle Seawolves | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 50 | 6 | 58 |
| 5 | Old Glory DC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 52 | 4 | 37 |
| 6 | New England Free Jacks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 64 | 4 | 24 |
Anthem RC’s four-try haul and Carty’s composed kicking game gave the home side a points return that keeps them in direct contention for top spot. Seattle, despite the individual contributions of Rossouw and Ryan, were unable to sustain the scoring pressure that briefly gave them the lead in the first half, and the nine-point deficit now stands as their primary focus heading into Week 4.