Free Jacks fall as Gold shine at the Shrine

A wild and entertaining game at the Shrine on Airline saw the NOLA Gold taking a 31-22 victory over the New England Free Jacks on Saturday afternoon. Both teams would score four tries with the accurate goal kicking of Carl Meyer proving the difference.

NOLA controlled much of the territory in the early stages of the match but couldn’t quite get over the line. An unfortunate ankle injury to to Zack Stryffeler against his former team gave both sides an unexpected breather, and when play resumed the home side continued to build pressure.

At last the line was breached. A penalty gave NOLA an attacking lineout, and then a second after New England had temporarily turned them back. After multiple phases a half-gap opened on the post and Dino Waldren drove in from a meter out for the first try. Meyer landed the conversion to give the Gold an early seven point lead.

The Free Jacks would earn their response. From the restart they kept the Gold pinned in their end, and a penalty gave New England a lineout in striking range. The maul succeeded as planned though slightly unconventional as diminutive scrumhalf John Poland was the man holding the ball when the drive reached the line. Tadhg Leader’s conversion made it all square.

Despite the perfect weather the two sides continued to hammer ahead in the forwards. NOLA were awarded a 5 meter scrum, with Cam Dolan and Scott Gale launching off the back. The Free Jacks repelled the initial surge but Nikola Bursic was on hand to power over on the blindside for the Gold’s second try. Meyer again stuck the extras to restore the converted try lead.

Leader had an immediate chance for three on a penalty kick but the flyhalf pushed it to the right of the posts and the points went begging. Halftime would arrive with NOLA holding a 14-7 advantage. The second half would arrive in breakneck speed as both teams switched gears to all-out attack.

The Gold came roaring out of the sheds but again the Free Jacks defense held. Poland launched a counter attack that went through several pairs of hands and took New England to within a couple meters of the line. Conor Kindregan carried the rest of the way, driving over for the try. Leader’s kick was well struck but again the flags stayed down.

A riposte from NOLA came with a back-door offload from Dolan that freed Tim Maupin. He in turn looped an overhead pass back inside to Con Foley, who stepped off his left and looked to have made it into the corner. The officials ruled that he had not grounded the ball before being wrapped up by the defense, held up the call.

Within an instant the Free Jacks were flying back up the pitch. A line break from Sam Beard set the score in motion and Poland’s quick service from the breakdown sent Liam Steel into the corner. The conversion attempt was sliced well wide by the frustrated Leader.

Meyer hit back with a penalty goal but just a couple frantic minutes later New England were in again. Leader’s miss pass gave Beaudein Waaka room to step and offload to Poasa Waqanibau. The winger connected with Naulia Dawai cutting back inside, with Poland on hand to take the short pass in for his double. Waaka took over the kicking duties but again the points were missed.

The kicking woes would come back to haunt the Free Jacks as NOLA would score twice in a span of three minutes after the hydration break. Gale, now at flyhalf, ducked and weaved his way through the line for the first. The second came from Dolan, whose long arm roped in a telegraphed pass from Josh Larsen to race home from 40 meters. Meyer converted both to take New England out of losing bonus point range.

Another intercept nearly cost another try soon after. With New England on the doorstep, Meyer snagged Poland’s pass intended for Deion Mikesell and sprinted clear. He was caught, and the potential scoring pass failed to go to hand. The Free Jacks would not get another opportunity before time expired.

It’s a road match for NOLA on Friday as they meet the Utah Warriors at Salt Lake. The Free Jacks will celebrate their home opener at Union Point Stadium on Saturday when the Houston SaberCats arrive in New England.

 

SCORING

NOLA 31
Tries – D. Waldren (15’), N. Bursic (31’), S. Gale (64’), C. Dolan (67’)
Cons – C. Meyer 4/4 (16’, 32’, 65’, 68’)
Pens – C. Meyer 1/1 (52’)

NEW ENGLAND 22
Tries – J. Poland 2 (23’, 54’), C. Kindregan (43’), L. Steel (49’)
Cons – T. Leader 1/3 (24’), B. Waaka 0/1
Pens – T. Leader 0/1

 

TEAMS

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 51’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Cam Falcon 58’), 3 Dino Waldren (18 Doc Irey 62’), 4 Billy Stewart (19 Kane Thompson 58’), 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 6 Nikola Bursic (20 Malcolm May 51’), 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Scott Gale, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Con Foley, 13 Carl Meyer, 14 Tim Maupin (23 Nick Feakes 62’), 15 JP Eloff (21 Holden Yungert 62’)

Not used: 22 Ross Depperschmidt

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Donald Brighouse (18 Simon Courcoul 65’), 2 Sean McNulty (16 Steven Hinshaw 69’), 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (17 Quentin Newcomer 57’), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Conor Kindregan, 6 Ben Landry (20 Evan Geist 56’), 7 Zack Stryffeler (19 Owen Hundt 6’), 8 Naulia Dawai, 9 John Poland (21 Ollie Engelhart 77’), 10 Tadhg Leader (22 Timothée Guillimin 74’), 11 Danny Collins, 12 Sam Beard, 13 Liam Steel (23 Deion Mikesell 68’), 14 Poasa Waqanibau, 15 Beaudein Waaka

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)