Free Jacks set MLR record with win over Warriors

The Free Jacks defeated the Utah Warriors 33-17 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. It’s New England’s 8th consecutive victory, which sets a new Major League Record surpassing the previous mark set by both the Glendale Raptors in 2018 and the Toronto Arrows in 2019.

It was a high-flying start for the home side. Paula Balakena broke down the left side, then Kyle Ciquera broke a tackle in the midfield and offloaded to keep the move alive. Quick hands from Le Roux Malan found Mitch Wilson free on the right side for the opening try and Beaudein Waaka added the conversion.

John Poland worked a give-and-go with Ciquera but a flying tackle from Calvin Whiting knocked the ball loose and stopped what looked a certain try. At the other end Franco van den Berg went clean through the line but the prop was isolated and Joe Johnston won a turnover to halt the advance.

Paul Mullen had been getting the edge on Ciquera in the scrum, but the Free Jacks turned the tables and earned a penalty just after the hydration break. They opted for an attacking lineout and from 10 meters out they drove over the line with Pieter Jansen getting the credit. Waaka tacked on the other two and it was 14-nil to New England.

Calvin Whiting got Utah on the board with a penalty goal from out front. A loose kick from Danny Christensen gave Waaka a chance to counter. He scorched around the outside, found Wilson in support on his left, and a pass back inside sent Poland in for the try. Again Waaka was on target from wide out.

Taking a page from Waaka, Mike Te’o regathered a high ball that bounced off Balekana and raced through a gap in the line. It was a simple two-on-one to find Caleb Makene in support, and the flyhalf had just enough pace to score. Whiting’s conversion made it 21-10 at halftime.

Jansen got a double on the end of a lineout drive early in the second half, the two midfielders joining in to help secure the bonus point. Balekana looked to have scored on a sneaky break from a ruck, but the TMO called him back for being ahead of the ball. Waaka then missed a shot at goal.

The Warriors lost Olive Kilifi to injury, and then van den Berg had been back on for only two minutes when he was knocked cold in a tackle. A deliberate knock-on landed Balekana in the bin, and then Cliven Loubser spotted some green behind the defense. The cross-kick bounced up for Joe Mano to touch down in the corner, with Whiting’s conversion splitting the uprights.

At the restart Utah knocked the ball on trying to play out their own end. From the scrum Malan crashed ahead, and then Slade McDowall drove over for New England’s fifth try. The kick from Waaka made it 33-17 and put the result beyond doubt.

Both teams are at home next Saturday. New England will go for nine straight wins with Old Glory DC their guest. Utah will take on the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, Rugby ATL.

 

SCORING

NEW ENGLAND 33
Tries – M. Wilson (2′), P. Jansen 2 (22′, 47′), J. Poland (34′), S. McDowall (74′)
Cons – B. Waaka 4/5 (3′, 23′, 35′, 75′)
Pens – B. Waaka 0/1
YC – P. Balekana (66′)

UTAH 17
Tries – C. Makene (37′), J. Mano (71′)
Cons – C. Whiting 2/2 (38′, 72′)
Pens – C. Whiting 1/1 (27′)

 

TEAMS

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera (17 Alex Johnston 61′), 2 Pieter Jansen (16 Mills Sanerivi 52′), 3 Erich de Jager (18 Spencer Krueger 61′), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Jesse Parete (19 Justin Johnson 61′), 7 Joe Johnston (20 Slade McDowall 53′), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland (21 Zachary Short 76′), 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Paula Balakena, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Mitch Wilson (23 Isaac Olson 76′), 15 Dougie Fife (22 Harrison Boyle 76′)

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg (17 Olive Kilifi HT-63′) (3 Paul Mullen 65′), 2 Chad Gough (16 Tuvere Vugakoto 52′), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Angus MacLellan 48′), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Puna Vuli 65′), 6 Mike Gieselman (19 Saia Uhila 52′), 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Danny Christensen (21 Zion Going 61′), 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse (22 Cliven Loubser 50′), 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Connor Burns (23 Joe Mano 50′), 15 Mike Te’o

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)