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Dallas took a step closer to earning a place in the postseason with a stirring 22-20 win over Chicago on Sunday. Fans were treated to a nail-biting contest that came down to the final possession, with the Jackals defense holding strong to claim a famous victory against the Hounds.
The Texas heat made handling difficult and both teams resorted to tactical approaches for much of the first half. Kian Meadon recorded his first points in Chicago colors with a penalty goal after James Scott was stopped short of the line. The Jackals were then caught trying to run out of their own end but this time Meadon’s kick was pushed wide of the uprights.
Some backline endeavor gave the home side the first try of the game. Nic Benn looped around to his opposite wing to create an overlap on the left side, with Jason Tidwell sprinting free from 40 meters. Martín Elías sliced the conversion attempt badly but the home side held a slender lead.
Chicago were going through the phases when Noah Brown bounced out of a tackle to build momentum. The ball was recycled and flung wide left where Mason Flesch was waiting to slide over on the end of a long pass from Billy Meakes. Meadon’s kick hit the post and the 8-5 score would hold to halftime.
When the two sides emerged it was Dallas who took the initiative. A charge-down from Jerónimo Gómez Vara turned over possession, and Juan-Dee Oliver attacked with his offload sending Sam Tuifua on a charging run towards the line. The powerful No8 broke two tackles to score from 30 meters out. Elías added the extras and the Jackals were in the lead by four.
Moments after the restart it was Tuifua again on the rampage. This time he was stopped but the Hounds defense was left in tatters and Oliver spotted space behind the line. His chip ahead from the base of a ruck was perfectly weighted and there was nobody at home to stop the scrumhalf from grounding the ball, with the conversion suddenly putting Dallas ahead 19-8.
The Jackals lost flanker Makeen Alikhan to a leg injury but the pressure did not relent. Elías knocked over a three-pointer and the Hounds were now down by two converted tries with under half-an-hour to play. To their credit the Hounds clawed their way back and when Luke White was stopped just short, Charlie Abel was on hand to drive over the line. Adriaan Carelse took over the kicking duties but pushed his kick wide right, which left it a two-score game heading into the final minutes of the match.
Brown produced another spark when he bashed and spun his way through a handful of defenders to score a marvelous individual try that gave the Hounds a chance. Carelse knocked over the extra two to set up a grandstand finish. After a countless number of phases on attack, Carelse stepped back in the pocket as if to line up a drop goal. He opted to run instead but the defense was there in numbers in and a knock-on brought an end to a thrilling contest.
Despite the defeat Chicago remains on track to reach the playoffs and can make it formal if they can get past San Diego at home in Major League Rugby’s first ever Monday night game next week. It’s a short turnaround for Dallas, who host Old Glory DC on Friday night with two points needed to secure their own spot in the postseason.
| SCORING |
DALLAS 22
Tries (3) – J. Tidwell (14′), S. Tuifua (43′), J. Oliver (45′)
Cons (2) – M. Elías 1/2 (46′), No kick (43′)
Pens (1) – M. Elías 1/1 (52′)
CHICAGO 20
Tries (3) – M. Flesch (19′), C. Abel (57′), N. Brown (76′)
Cons (1) – K. Meadon 0/1, A. Carelse 1/2 (76′)
Pens (1) – K. Meadon 1/2 (6′)
| LINEUPS |
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Joaquín Horcada (16 Liam Murray 60′), 2 Dewald Kotze (17 Tomás Bekerman 58′), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (18 Kyle Steeves 77′), 4 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 5 Lucas Bur (19 Kyle Breytenbach 71′), 6 Ronan Foley, 7 Makeen Alikhan (22 Marques Fuala’au 48′), 8 Sam Tuifua (20 Daemon Torres 61′), 9 Juan-Dee Oliver, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Connor Winchester, 13 Mitch Richardson (21 Brock Gallagher 71′), 14 Jason Tidwell, 15 Tomás Malanos
Not used: 23 Kieran Farmer
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Charlie Abel (17 Fred Apulu 64′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Janus Venter 64′), 3 Paddy Ryan (18 Ignacio Péculo 64′), 4 George Merrick, 5 James Scott (19 Brad Tucker 62′), 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones (21 Lucas Rumball 60′), 8 Conall Boomer (20 Luke White 50′), 9 Nick McCarthy (22 Jason Higgins 43′), 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Kian Meadon (23 Cassh Maluia 58′)
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, June 9
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 19:00 local
Weather: partly cloudy, 90°F (32°C), wind SE 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
