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The Chicago Hounds closed out their season with a 29-28 win over the Dallas Jackals, but it was the ugly scene just after halftime that will be remembered. Five players were sent off following a mass punch-up with four yellow cards
There was no sign of hostility early on as the visitors took the lead. Paddy Ryan squeezed over from close range for the first try, and then a Billy Meakes chip kick deflected off a Dallas player straight into the hands of Maclean Jones for a second try. Both were converted by Luke Carty.
The Jackals fired back when Juan Pablo Zeiss fired a behind-the-back pass to Tomás Malanos, who in turn sent Marcos Moroni into the corner. In the background Tinashe Muchena was binned for a dangerous tackle, and just a minute later Tomas Cubilla’s offload gave Danny Christensen a free run under the posts to even the scores.
Michael Baska crossed just before halftime after Chris Mattina snatched up a loose ball, but the move was called back for obstruction after a TMO review. Moroni attempted a long-range penalty goal on the stroke of halftime but it was pushed just left of the posts.
Carty nudged the visitors ahead by three early in the second half just ahead of the chaos. Sam Golla and Cam Dodson ended up in fisticuffs off the ball and then both teams came flying with fists of rage. When the dust settled Dodson was sent from the field along with Jones and Lindsey Stevens, with Conrado Roura and Adriaan Booysen also receiving red cards. Booysen was a clear case of mistaken identity with No8 called out by the TMO instead of Golla who was wearing No5.
An other penalty goal from Carty stretched Chicago’s lead, but he was soon off the pitch with a yellow card for cynical play at a breakdown. The Jackals pressed in the scrum, and when they couldn’t choose a third put-in the went to the maul which earned them a penalty try. Mercifully no card was brandished on this occasion.
Mattina grabbed the lead back for Chicago with a penalty goal seconds before Carty returned to the pitch. He then took three more after an offside call just a couple minutes later, then Carty would have a crack from long range but he was wide of the mark.
Another yellow came out when Mika Felix was singled out for a no-arms chop tackle. At the ensuing lineout, Duke Krishnan was deemed to have intentionally collapsed the maul and he too was sent to the bin and a penalty try awarded to give Dallas a 28-26 lead.
A snap drop goal from Carty with five minutes to play was wide, but it was on advantage and Mattina again stepped up to the tee. The fullback’s radar was accurate and the flags went up to give the Hounds a one-point advantage. Moroni would have a chance to steal the win just a minute later from 45 meters out, but he skewed his kick badly and Chicago would hold on for the victory.
The result means the Hounds finish their inaugural campaign with three wins and jump ahead of the Jackals in the Western Conference standings. Dallas are resigned to being last in the conference but can avoid the overall basement if Toronto loses to NOLA on Sunday.
SCORING
DALLAS 28
Tries (4) – M. Moroni (24′), D. Christensen (26′), Penalty try 2 (58′, 71′)
Cons (4) – A. Torres 1/1 (25′), No kick 3 (26′, 58′, 71′)
Pens (0) – M. Moroni 0/2
RC (2) – C. Roura (47′), A. Booysen (47′)
CHICAGO 29
Tries (2) – P. Ryan (7′), M. Jones (14′)
Cons (2) – L. Carty 2/2 (8′, 15′)
Pens (5) – L. Carty 2/3 (43′, 50′), C. Mattina 3/3 (63′, 66′, 77′)
DG (0) – L. Carty 0/1
YC (4) – T. Muchena (25′), L. Carty (53′), M. Felix (70′), D. Krishnan (71′)
RC (3) – M. Jones (47′), L. Stevens (47′), C. Dodson (47′)
TEAMS
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray (16 Alex Tucci 59′), 2 Tomás Baravalle (17 Dewald Kotze 49′), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Kyle Steeves 63′), 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Conrado Roura (20 Cameron Nelson 67′), 8 Adriaan Booysen (19 Maikeli Naromaitoga 67′), 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Alejandro Torres (22 Juan Pablo Aguirre 63′), 11 Lui Sitama (23 Jason Tidwell HT), 12 Tomás Cubilla, 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Campbell Johnstone, 15 Marcos Moroni
Not used: 21 James Vaifale
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White (17 George Thornton 57′), 2 Lindsey Stevens (18 Mika Felix 67′), 3 Paddy Ryan (16 Charlie Abel 46′), 4 John Cullen (19 Cam Dodson 33′ {20 Michael de Waal 67′}), 5 Duke Krishnan, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Maclean Jones (23 JP Eloff 67′), 8 Tinashe Muchena, 9 Sidney Shoop (18 Mika Felix 54′-67′) (3 Paddy Ryan 73′), 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez (22 Caleb Strum 73′), 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Michael Baska, 15 Chris Mattina
Not used: 21 Nick Taylor
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Justin Hale (USA) & Andrew Low (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
