Match Preview: SaberCats vs. Seattle Seawolves 4.13.19

The inaugural game at the AVEVA Stadium grounds is set to kick off this Saturday, on a night that will also mark the SaberCats’ first rematch of the season versus the Seattle Seawolves. The Seawolves (6-3) currently sit in 4th place of the league standings with 33 points, while the SaberCats (2-6) currently occupy the 7th position with 11 points.

The last time these two teams met, Seattle walked away with a victory on their own turf at Starfire after mounting a second-half comeback that saw them score 24 points in the final 40 minutes. Over the course of that game, the Seawolves were able to put up over 850 meters and score three tries on the way to extending their (at the time) unbeaten home record.

However, those who watched that game may remember that the match’s first half appeared to be all Houston. They were finally starting to show some improvement in terms of ball retention and getting it to the outside and continually frustrated Seattle ball carriers by meeting them at or behind the Gain Line and allowing them no more.

Unfortunately, as ‘Cats fans have seen in matches prior, the bottom seemed to fall out at the conclusion of halftime as Seawolf-Superstars Eric Duechle and Riekert Hattingh proceeded to put the finishing touches on their nights of 146 and 100 total meters respectively, flying through the ‘Cats defense and putting them away. Now, with more game tape to consult and a cohort of fans hungry for a victory, can the ‘Cats make this right?

Going back to these two’s week 7 matchup, there certainly are areas in which the ‘Cats could capitalize on a particular weakness. For instance, Seattle committed a whopping total of 15 turnovers and 6 penalties. In these instances, the ‘Cats need to take advantage of the extra opportunities at possession, which means coming away with points from as many phases as possible, even if it’s just a penalty goal (which Sam Windsor has a league-leading 23 of this season already).

To accomplish this, the ‘Cats need to stay aggressive, particularly on defense where they’ve been able to frazzle other teams into committing costly mistakes. Seattle is a team that likes to run a very balanced game plan in terms of who they get involved and how they attack you. If the ‘Cats can succeed in getting their opponent’s strategy off-kilter, it could very well result in the upset victory of the season.

After a disappointing loss last week to Glendale, the ‘Cats will aim for redemption as they continue to look ahead to their next challenger. Head to AVEVA Stadium this Saturday, April 13th at 5 pm CT to see how it all plays out!

By Liam Poach
Twitter: @PoacherRugby