MLR 2020 Review – Old Glory DC

Not many pegged Old Glory DC as the best of the expansion sides heading into the season, and after their rude introduction to Major League Rugby even less would have expected them to be third overall and second in the East Conference when the season closed. It’s fair to say Andrew Douglas & Co. earned an overachievers ribbon as they started their professional rugby journey in remarkable fashion.

RESULTS

NOLA were in no mood to be charitable as they crushed their new East Conference rivals in Week One. A home game was just what the doctor ordered, however, and the sell-out crowd in Washington were treated to a sensational upset of defending champions Seattle in Week Two.

The Texas road trip returned two positive results as both Houston and Austin fell to the new kids, in fact neither established team managing so much as a bonus point. A clash between two impressive expansion sides ended with Old Glory just edging ATL in what was to be the final week of the season.

TOP PERFORMERS

The scrum was a major problem even with Tendai Mtawarira in the lineup. Set piece aside, there were promising showings from returning front rowers Dante Lopresti and Will Vakalahi. The former switched from tighthead prop to hooker while the latter went from loosehead to tighthead. Prior MLR experience was evident in loose forwards Travis Larsen, Matt Hughston, and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz.

Thretton Palamo formed a brick-wall midfield partnership with test veteran but MLR newcomer Ciaran Hearn. The ‘third’ center, Doug Fraser, was one of Old Glory’s standout backfielders despite often finding himself out of position on the wing. Dylan Taikato-Simpson was just beginning to find his Glendale form as the season dissolved.

NEW NAMES

Though roughly half the team was part of the 2019 spring exhibition campaign, the entire first choice side in 2020 were new. Gordon Fullerton showed skill in loose play but the scrum is a definite work-on for the tighthead. Tevita Naqali was the pick of the second row corps, while Mungo Mason was a class apart as the starting openside flanker and co-captain alongside Palamo.

A big win on the recruitment front was halfbacks Danny Tusitala and Jason Robertson, who proved an electric attacking duo that suited Old Glory’s playing style to a tee. There was more New Zealand influence on the wings with Renata Roberts-Te Nana and Declan O’Donnell both multi-skilled threats.

MISSING MEN

The Beast, sadly, managed only a game and a half after his arrival. MLR fans are desperate for him to return in 2021 to get a chance to see him play in person. Other front row problems saw Mike Sosene-Feagai and Mo Katz starting the season injured, while top prospect Jack Iscaro’s preseason injury ruled him out entirely.

Original captain Josh Brown also started late due to injury. Otherwise the team was at full strength though neither of their starting exhibition wingers Vetekina Malafu and Ryan Burroughs got so much as a minute of playing time before the pandemic hit.

HOME BASE

Cardinal Stadium at Catholic University worked out fine with one caveat – the field lines are possibly the most distracting in MLR. It was sometimes difficult to tell whether a try had been scored. Eventually a new home will be found but we may have to endure the eye-sore in the short-term. The fan experience was a big positive and encouraging numbers showed up to see the newest sporting endeavor in DC.

WISH LIST

Old Glory’s first choice match day 23 was competitive but depth was the other real concern outside of the scrum. Had the season continued there would have been fingernails chewed to the quick in hopes that more injuries didn’t strike. Tighthead prop and second row were desperately short of bodies and that needs to be priority No1 during the off-season.

Depth in the backs was also questionable with second-string flyhalf Mike Dabulas seeing very little game time and no real midfield cover should anything happen to their international trio. An experienced 10/12 option would be advisable with room for a younger specialist center to learn from the veterans.

OUTLOOK

The long-term prospects for Old Glory are good. They have built a strong organization and look to have excellent community support. There are reasons to believe the ‘honeymoon’ would have ended or at least dimmed had the season continued but if depth and field lines are the only real complaints from their maiden voyage, that’s a sign things are headed in the right direction.