Free Jacks rout Arrows to clinch Eastern Conference Final spot

The New England Free Jacks have booked their place in the Eastern Conference Final after a 57-20 rout of the Toronto Arrows on Saturday. A capacity crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium watched the home side pour on nine tries while conceding just two to the visitors.

It was the Arrows who were on the offensive from the kickoff, but instead of pressing for an early try they opted for three points off the boot of Peter Nelson. New England taught them an immediate lesson, with Toronto’s defense caught out of sorts as Slade McDowall crossed on the end of a multi-phased attack. The kick from Jayson Potroz made it a full seven.

A pair of tries followed in quick succession from the Free Jacks. Potroz weaved past two defenders on a counter-attack to send Kieran McClea into the corner. Mills Sanerivi then charged down a Will Grant box kick attempt, and soon after it was Sanerivi who went over at the end of a lineout drive after the Arrows conceded a penalty.

Down 19-3, Toronto again opted for a Nelson penalty and again the Free Jacks responded with a try. This time it was Tevita Sole who got the credit from a rolling maul. A knock-on from Ben LeSage deep in his own end handed the Arrows a lifeline just before halftime, with Tautalatasi Tasi crashing over just beside the upright.

Just a minute into the second half the home side were in for their fifth try. The visitors made a hash of the restart and Sanerivi broke to the short side of a maul just outside the 22-meter line. He found Kieran McClea to his left before taking a return pass to slide in for a double.

Poor discipline from New England gave away field position to the Arrows. After several crashes through the forwards, Tasi showed good strength to squeeze between two defenders for his brace. Toronto was immediately found wanting in the restart, however, and McDowall wrestled his way through traffic for his second of the game.

Mitch Wilson was next to cross after Beaudein Waaka broke free and slipped a tackle, the scoring pass in behind the last defender freeing his winger. Waaka then shifted to flyhalf and delivered a cross-kick for Taniela Filimone to demonstrate his aerial talents for another try. The final blow went to Andrew Quattrin from another driving maul.

New England can now turn their attention entirely to postseason preparation, and will hit the road to face Rugby ATL on Friday night. Toronto plays host to the Houston SaberCats on Saturday.

 

SCORING

NEW ENGLAND 57
Tries (9) – S. McDowall 2 (5′, 53′), K. McClea (16′), M. Sanerivi 2 (23′, 41′), T. Sole (32′), M. Wilson (56′), T. Filimone (62′), A. Quattrin (75′)
Cons (6) – J. Potroz 5/7 (6′, 24′, 33′, 54′, 57′), B. Waaka 1/2 (76′)

TORONTO 20
Tries (2) – T. Tasi 2 (40′, 50′)
Cons (2) – S. O’Leary 2/2 (40′, 51′)
Pens (2) – P. Nelson 2/2 (3′, 26′)

 

TEAMS

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kianu Kereru-Symes (17 Kyle Ciquera 49′), 2 Mills Sanerivi (16 Andrew Quattrin 49′), 3 Tevita Sole (18 Conor Young 49′), 4 Semisi Paea (19 Conor Keys 52′), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 7 Slade McDowall, 8 Wian Conradie (20 Cam Davidowicz 57′), 9 Kieran McClea (21 Holden Yungert 60′), 10 Jayson Potroz (23 Isaac Olson 60′), 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage (22 Spencer Jones 57′), 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Beaudein Waaka

TORONTO ARROWS
1 Connor Grindal (17 Nik Hildebrand 67′), 2 Ramón Ayarza (16 Jack McRogers 45′), 3 Tyler Rowland (18 Conan O’Donnell 60′), 4 Mason Flesch (19 Hank Stevenson 51′), 5 Shay Kerry, 6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 7 Owain Ruttan (20 James O’Neill 54′), 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Will Grant (23 Cole Brown 60′), 10 Peter Nelson (22 D’Shawn Bowen 44′), 11* Dawson Fatoric, 12 Liam Bowman (21* Ciaran Breen 67′-71′), 13 Tautalatasi Tasi (21 Ciaran Breen 71′), 14* Kobe Faust, 15 Shane O’Leary

*the above numbers reflect a late lineup change by the Arrows, actual numbers worn by Dawson Fatoric, Kobe Faust, and Ciaran Breen were 21, 11, and 14 respectively

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)

 

Attendance: 3,364