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For a second straight week the Dallas Jackals came oh-so-close to ending their losing streak, only to be denied by a single point at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. New England did just enough to squeak through with a 10-9 victory in wet and chilly Quincy conditions.
It was a largely tactical affair with both sides frequently putting boot to ball. The first scoring opportunity went to New England and Conor Keys nearly scored in the corner but the ball slipped from his hands as he crossed the line with a defender on his back.
The Jackals won a kicking exchange to earn field position, and after a thunderous hit from Ben LeSage on Tomás Malanos the Free Jacks were too slow to roll away. Martín Elías lined up the routine penalty goal and the flags went up to give the visitors the lead. A handling error from Alejandro Torres gave the points straight back, however, with Jayson Potroz cancelling out his opposite’s effort.
More fortune would come for the Free Jacks just after the hydration break. Conrado Roura stripped the ball from Wayne van der Bank’s arms, but the Jackals were driven back over their own line to concede a 5-meter scrum. Wian Conradie burst from the back and barged through two Dallas defenders to ground the ball, with Potroz adding the extras.
An offside call gave Elías a chance to close the gap from well within his range, but his strike wasn’t clean and the ball drifted well wide of the uprights. The Free Jacks couldn’t clear their lines and the Dallas pack piled on the pressure but were held-up over the line. Elías then opted for the corner instead the posts, and when the Jackals knocked-on the chance was lost.
With the clock in the red Reece MacDonald saw yellow for taking out Marcos Moroni in a clumsy aerial challenge. The result was first an attacking lineout, and then a shot at goal from just outside the 22-meter line. This time Elías was on target to make it a four-point game as the two sides headed into the sheds.
Elías landed his third successful kick a dozen minutes into the second half when New England were again caught creeping over the offside line. Paula Balekana made a rare break down the left side that had alarm bells ringing but the ball was eventually lost in contact and the single-point margin held firm.
New England were next to turn down was looked like an easy three points, instead opting for a tap penalty. Conradie left the ball behind him for Andrew Quattrin to smash ahead, but the hooker was held up by Kyle Steeves and the Jackals escaped from danger.
A tense ending to the game saw both teams jostling for field position. Torres snatched up a loose ball and chipped ahead, forcing the Free Jacks to carry it back in-goal and concede a 5-meter scrum. It wasn’t to be for the visitors, however, as the New England pack drove them off the ball to win a penalty. From the ensuing lineout Holden Yungert sent the ball into the stands to bring on the final whistle.
It’s a short turnaround for the Free Jacks, who will take on the Warriors under Friday night lights at Zions Bank Stadium. The Jackals will look towards next Saturday with confidence knowing that a wounded Toronto Arrows side are traveling to Dallas with a historic result a distinct possibility.
SCORING
NEW ENGLAND 10
Tries (1) – W. Conradie (23′)
Cons (1) – J. Potroz 1/1 (24′)
Pens (1) – J. Potroz 1/1 (17′)
YC (1) – R. MacDonald (40′)
DALLAS 9
Pens (3) – M. Elías 3/4 (12′, 40’+3′, 52′)
TEAMS
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Foster DeWitt (17 Kyle Ciquera 48′), 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes (16 Andrew Quattrin 48′), 3 Joel Hintz (18 Cole Keith 48′), 4 Semisi Paea (19 Sam Fischli 57′), 5 Conor Keys, 6 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 7 Joe Johnston (20 Cam Davidowicz 70′), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Kieran McClea (21 Holden Yungert 57′), 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Spencer Jones 34′-HT), 14 Taniela Filimone (23 Zach Bastres 57′), 15 Reece MacDonald (22 Spencer Jones 73′)
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Nicolás Revol (16 Liam Murray 67′), 2 Dewald Kotze (17 Connor Robinson 69′), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Kyle Steeves 61′), 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen (20 Cameron Nelson 77′), 9 Nazareno Valentini, 10 Martín Elías, 11 James Vaifale, 12 Alejandro Torres, 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Lui Sitama, 15 Marcos Moroni
Not used: 19 Carson Shoemaker, 21 Danny Christensen, 22 Campbell Johnstone, 23 Aaron Gray
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Mike Rudzinsky (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
