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Old Glory DC dealt a harsh lesson to Major League Rugby’s newest team on Saturday afternoon. The home side scored 30 points in a dominant first half to emerge 42-27 winners over the Chicago Hounds, who were making their regular season debuts.
It was a horror start for the Hounds. They turned over possession on the kickoff and within seconds Danny Tusitala put Collin Grosse into the corner for a try on debut. Tito Díaz Bonilla nailed the sideline conversion and the home side were away while fans were still taking their seats.
Luke Carty calmed the nerves with a well-struck three-pointer after the Chicago scrum won a penalty. A few minutes later there was a reply from Diaz Bonilla, but Carty knocked over another kick after some sustained pressure from the Hounds.
Chicago’s exit again didn’t go to plan. Nic Souchon snatched a turnover at the breakdown, and two passes later Lautaro Bavaro was over for his own debut try. This time Díaz Bonilla’s radar was slightly off as he pushed the conversion wide right.
The Hounds shook off the shaky start and soon powered over for the club’s first regular season try. A wide ball saw winger JP Eloff halted just inches short, but there was no stopping George Thornton on the pick and drive. Carty curled the conversion over to make it a two-point game.
On the other side of the hydration break it was Díaz Bonilla’s boot that again took points for DC. A high shot from Luke Beauchamp earned a yellow card for the Hounds flanker. Before he had even reached the sin bin DC were in for a try, with Souchon on the back of the lineout drive. Díaz Bonilla couldn’t quite find his target but the home side’s lead was now double digits.
The DC flyhalf made up for the misses with his hands. Díaz Bonilla took a quick tap on a penalty that caught Chicago unprepared. Two quick recycles later and the Argentine popped a no-look pass to Junior Sa’u, who somehow wriggled out of two would-be tacklers to ground the ball for the bonus-point try. This time Díaz Bonilla was spot on to make it an even 30 points for Old Glory.
An try from Kurt Baker early in the second half put the result beyond doubt, but there was still a bonus point on offer if Chicago could conjure three more tries. They would get one before long when Charlie Abel reached out to ground the ball under the posts for a seven-pointer.
Just ahead of the hour mark Old Glory got a sixth try via scrumhalf Danny Tusitala, who danced through the defense to score in the left corner. The Hounds fired back with a try from Luke White, but were hit with an injury blow as Carty limped off with what looked like a groin injury after slotting the conversion.
With no more back replacements available, flanker Dacoda Worth was summoned to play on the wing while Chris Mattina moved into the flyhalf position. One last assault from the visitors saw Michael de Waal coming desperately close to scoring the bonus point try, but it was somehow turned over and DC ran it out of their own end to safety.
Both teams have a bye week before returning to action on March 5. Chicago will be hoping that Carty is fit to play against Utah in their historic home opener at SeatGeek Stadium. DC will take on the defending champions New York at their new home in Mount Vernon.
SCORING
DC 42
Tries (6) – C. Grosse (1′), L. Bavaro (17′), N. Souchon (32′), J. Sa’u (36′), K. Baker (43′), D. Tusitala (58′)
Cons (3) – J. Díaz Bonilla 3/6 (2′, 37′, 44′)
Pens (2) – J. Díaz Bonilla 2/2 (12′, 27′)
CHICAGO 27
Tries (3) – G. Thornton (20′), C. Abel (49′), Lu. White (68′)
Cons (3) – L. Carty 2/2 (21′, 69′), No kick (49′)
Pens (2) – L. Carty 2/2 (6′, 16′)
YC (1) – L. Beauchamp (32′)
TEAMS
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro (17 Quentin Newcomer 66′), 2 Nic Souchon (16 Facundo Gattas 59′), 3 Kyle Stewart (18 Cali Martinez 61′), 4 Stan South, 5 Tevita Naqali (19 Fintan Coleman 59′), 6 Collin Grosse (20 Alejo Daireaux 74′), 7 Lautaro Bavaro, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (21 Gradyn Bowd 79′), 11 Junior Sa’u (22 Marcos Young HT), 12 Thretton Palamo, 13 Fermín Martínez, 14 Mike Dabulas (23 John Rizzo 59′), 15 Kurt Baker
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton (16 LaRome White 61′), 2 Lindsey Stevens (17 Hugh Roach HT), 3 Charlie Abel (18 Paddy Ryan 52′), 4 Duke Krishnan (19 Mike Matarazzo 55′), 5 Luke White (20 Sam Peri 69′), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Michael Baska (22 Sean Yacoubian 61′), 10 Luke Carty (21 Dacoda Worth 70′), 11 Caleb Strum (23 Kevin Morgan 63′), 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 JP Eloff, 15 Chris Mattina
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Craig Sakowski (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
