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The New England Free Jacks continued their march towards an Eastern Conference title with a convincing 42-24 win over Old Glory DC on Sunday afternoon. Bright, sunny conditions at the nation’s capital allowed for running rugby and 10 tries were scored between the two teams.
Early pressure from the Free Jacks yielded points. DC gave away repeat penalties at the breakdown, with Jayson Potroz taking the corner instead of points. It was a routine throw-in and the drive worked a charm with Mills Sanerivi getting the credit. Potroz had no difficulty adding the extra two.
The first attempt by DC to reply was stopped, but they came straight back from their own end. Gradyn Bowd freed Tito Díaz Bonilla, whose fired a grubber into the corner that was regathered by Peni Lasaqa. The ball came wide to Kyle Baillie who took it within a couple meters of the line and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz was there to crash over for the try. Bowd’s conversion drew the scores level.
New England wasted no time restoring their lead. A set move from a scrum went wide to Paula Balakena, who fended off his opposite and popped to Reece MacDonald. One more pass and John Poland was jogging in for five. Potroz made it seven from a tricky angle.
The scrum set up the next try for the visitors. A set move from their own end saw Poland tearing upfield. It was turned over by DC but a knock-on gave another scrum to the Free Jacks. On came the shove until Wian Conradie tore off the back, breaking to the left and reaching out of the tackle to ground the ball. Another successful kick from Potroz left the home side 14 points adrift.
Old Glory came back and Fa’anana-Schultz blasted over again but this time he was held up. After the drop-out Lasaqa was driven into touch, and Potroz opted for a quick throw-in. Le Roux Malan sent a raking kick along the grass into DC territory with nobody back in defense. Reece MacDonald toed the ball ahead and won the race for the grounding to grab the bonus point.
The Free Jacks were in complete control early in the second half. Reece MacDonald sparked a counter-attack from his own end with Conor Keys making ground up the middle. Joe Johnston was held up over the line but New England were on advantage. On the next sequence Conradie punched over from close range for his double.
A window of opportunity opened for DC when Mitch Wilson saw yellow for knocking down a Bowd pass with Old Glory on the attack. Just a minute later Nic Souchon broke from the back of a driving maul and dove into the corner for a try. Shortly after Niko Jones wriggled out of two attempted tackles and offloaded to Collin Grosse for another score.
The visitors looked to have replied on a set move when Paula Balekana cut through on an inside ball from Ben LeSage, but a block in the midfield was clear on review and the try was waved off. Instead it was Old Glory who scored next. The forwards tied up the defense on the left side and then hands to the right found Owen Sheehy in space. He turned on the afterburners and sped free for the four-try bonus.
Any lingering hopes of a second bonus point were dashed when Wilson stood up William Talataina and forced a turnover. Holden Yungert picked up the loose ball and worked a nifty give-and-go with Malan to put the game on ice.
It’s a short turnaround for Old Glory who now have to travel to Toronto for a rare Thursday night game. New England get the full week to prepare for a home tilt against the NOLA Gold next Sunday.
SCORING
DC 24
Tries (4) – J. Fa’anana-Schultz (16′), N. Souchon (51′), C. Grosse (57′), O. Sheehy (70′)
Cons (2) – G. Bowd 2/4 (17′, 58′)
NEW ENGLAND 42
Tries (6) – M. Sanerivi (4′), J. Poland (19′), W. Conradie 2 (24′, 46′), R. MacDonald (32′), H. Yungert (77′)
Cons (6) – J. Potroz 6/6 (5′, 20′, 25′, 33′, 47′, 78′)
YC (1) – M. Wilson (50′)
TEAMS
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro (18 Cali Martinez 78′), 2 Nic Souchon (16 Facundo Gattas 59′), 3 Kyle Stewart (17 Quentin Newcomer 55′), 4 Tevita Naqali (19 Collin Grosse 47′), 5 Kyle Baillie (20 Langilangi Haupeakui 59′), 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Niko Jones, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala (21 John LeFevre 60′), 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Junior Sa’u (23 Marcos Young 47′), 12 Thretton Palamo, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (22 Owen Sheehy 59′)
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera (16 Kianu Kereru-Symes 50′ {17 Foster DeWitt 60′-71′}), 2 Mills Sanerivi (17 Foster DeWitt 76′), 3 Cole Keith (18 Joel Hintz 50′), 4 Conor Keys, 5 Reegan O’Gorman (19 Cam Davidowicz 65′), 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Mitch Jacobson (capt.) (20 Joe Johnston HT), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland (21 Holden Yungert 72′), 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Isaac Olson 74′), 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Reece MacDonald (23 Beaudein Waaka 69′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
