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Two teams on losing skids will look to start the second half of the season on a winning note at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday. The Chicago Hounds return home having lost back-to-back road games and four straight all told, while NOLA are smarting after two losses at The Gold Mine on either side of a bye week.
NOLA fans will be hoping there is a return to the form that saw the Gold jump back into playoff contention with three straight wins in mid-March. They’ll have to do it without three of their top players as Tom Florence joins Devin Short and Jordan Trainor on the sidelines this week.
Musical chairs in the front row sees Jarred Adams switching from loosehead to tighthead prop, with Matt Harmon recalled in the No1 shirt. Sean Paranihi settles for a spot on the bench alongside Kevin Sullivan. Eric Howard gets his first start of the campaign with Pat O’Toole a replacement this week, and Moni Tonga’uiha comes into the back row to replace Florence who is nursing a high ankle sprain.
Rodney Iona has recovered enough from a hamstring strain against ATL to retain the No10 shirt. The only changes in the backline are on the wing where Cael Hodgson and Jack Webster miss out with Aaron Matthews and Ross Depperschmidt starting. Kenneth Jinkins is set for his first appearance of the season and Harley Wheeler is back after a four-game absence to take up a spot among the reserves.
Chicago are now a little over a month removed from their historic first-ever victory and will be targeting this match with a bye next week. One starter has been ruled out but four new arrivals are poised to make their Hounds debuts and another key player returns from injury.
Hugh Roach failed an HIA against San Diego so the starting hooker spot goes to Mason Koch. With Lindsey Stevens also out injured, Charlie Abel is asked to provide emergency backup. Mika Felix starts at tighthead prop and Cam Dodson returns to Major League Rugby after spending the last few months abroad with Wasps and Aurillac.
Eagles duo Michael Baska and Luke Carty are the starting halfbacks for the first time in a month as Chris Mattina returns to fullback. JP Eloff drops to the bench, and Sean Yacoubian is out entirely with Sidney Shoop the backup scrumhalf. Star winger Julián Domínguez is back in the lineup after coming off early against New England two weeks ago.
Three new signings are named on the bench. Tighthead prop Fred Apulu makes the move from San Diego, and Chicago-born lock or flanker Justice Nkombua arrives from South Africa. Former Eagles Sevens and SaberCats center or wing Matai Leuta is named on the bench.
Mild conditions are expected at kickoff. The Hounds have had a tendency to drop off in the final quarter but are showing signs of improvement. NOLA are searching for consistency after the disappointing outing against ATL. The visitors get the favorites tag based on their previous winning outings but it’s a precarious label with the Hounds capable of playing spoilers.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Marquee Sports Plus in Chicago and YurView Louisiana, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton, 2 Mason Koch, 3 Mika Felix, 4 Cam Dodson, 5 Mike Matarazzo, 6 Dacoda Worth, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Charlie Abel, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 LaRome White, 19 John Cullen, 20 Justice Nkombua, 21 Sidney Shoop, 22 JP Eloff, 23 Matai Leuta
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Jarred Adams, 4 Billy Stewart, 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Aaron Matthews, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Ross Depperschmidt, 15 Dougie Fife
Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kevin Sullivan, 18 Sean Paranihi, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Kenneth Jinkins, 23 Harley Wheeler
Date: Sunday, April 23
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 13:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 14:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports Plus, The Rugby Network, YurView Louisiana
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Shawn Bastic (USA) & Andrew Dunn (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
