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Old Glory DC overpowered the New England Free Jacks this afternoon. The home side were in control at half-time but were the inferior side in the second half. Three tries in the second quarter gave them a big lead which was eroded in the second half. A try on fulltime gave Old Glory DC a 35-22 bonus point victory.
The New England Free Jacks started strongly. They won multiple penalties in the Old Glory DC half; yet, rather than kick for goal they went for seven points. They were ultimately rewarded; Dougie Fife scored in the 8th minute. The score came from a well-weighed kick from Harrison Boyle. Beaudein Waaka converted to give the Free Jacks a 7-0 lead after 8 minutes.
Two Jason Robertson penalties saw Old Glory DC cut the deficit to one point. Then, three minutes after the second, the Free Jacks were temporarily down to 14 men. Ronan McCusker was yellow carded for entering in the side of an advancing maul. The incident was followed by a dominant period from Old Glory DC.
A legitimate try was not given in the 26th minute. With no TMO to call-upon the officials determined that they did not have views to award the grounding. Replays confirmed that a try had been scored. It mattered not; Danny Tusitala went over one minute later. The scrum-half did so following strong runs from the forwards.
Mike Dabulas gave DC back-to-back quick-fire tries. The fullback made a lovely break and accelerated to find his way over. Robertson added the extras to put the home side 20-7 ahead. Then, with the half coming to a close Mike Sosene-Feagai gave Old Glory DC their third try. The hooker barged over from close range.
The Free Jacks needed a very different second half. They pressured Old Glory DC into giving away penalties. This resulted in Stan South being yellow carded. The temporary one-man advantage saw the Free Jacks narrowing the deficit. In a near mirror incident of the first half, Boyle combined with Fife for a try under the posts.
Robertson responded with a penalty; though, the Free Jacks were playing the better rugby. It was evident when, minutes later, they ran in their third try of the match. Left winger Harry Barlow touched down for a simple, but excellent score. It involved accurate passes and a well-taken finish. The unconverted try set-up a final ten minutes with the visitors 8 points behind.
The Free Jacks needed to take a chance to score again. It resulted in an interception. Old Glory DC did not score poins but were now camped deep in the opposition 22. The home side them did what they needed to to wind down the clock. Then in the final minute Robertson kicked for the corner and linked with Osea Kolinisau. The Fijians went over to seal the win and give DC a winning bonus point.
Both teams will be in action again next weekend. They will both be playing on the road in California. The Free Jacks face the San Diego Legion while DC take on the Giltinis in LA.
SCORING
DC 35
Tries – D. Tusitala (26′), M. Dabulas (31′), M. Sosene-Feagai (39′), O. Kolinisau (80′)
Cons – J. Robertson 3/4 (27′, 32′, 40′)
Pens – J. Robertson 3/3 (11′, 22′, 60′)
Yellow cards – S. South (50′)
NEW ENGLAND 22
Tries – D. Fife 2 (8′, 57′), H. Barlow (67′)
Cons – B. Waaka 1/2 (9′), No kick (57′)
Pens – B. Waaka 1/1 (43′)
Yellow cards – R. McCusker (25′)
TEAMS
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jamie Dever (17 Jack Iscaro 71′), 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai (16 Max Lum 71′), 3 Steven Longwell (18 Dante Lopresti 71′), 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Stan South, 6 Callum Gibbins, 7 Mungo Mason (capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (20 Josh Brown 72′), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Thomas Morani, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Osea Kolinisau, 15 Mike Dabulas
Not used: 19 Casey Renaud, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 D’Montae Noble, 23 Cory Daniel
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Sef Fa’agase (18 Quentin Newcomer 75′), 2 Pieter Jansen (16 Vili Toluta’u 68′), 3 Erich de Jager (17 Kensuke Hatakeyama 70′), 4 Jackson Thiebes, 5 Ronan McCusker (19 Tera Mtembu 56′), 6 Josh Larsen (capt.), 7 Justin Johnson (20 Evan Geist 71′), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland (21 Tom Brusati 75′), 10 Harrison Boyle, 11 Harry Barlow (23 Peceli Rinakama 70′), 12 Aleki Morris-Lome, 13 Dougie Fife, 14 Poasa Waqanibau (22 Jared Collinson 74′), 15 Beaudein Waaka
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USA) & Gray Montrose (USA)
