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The New England Free Jacks looked back in championship form on Sunday afternoon, running riot in the second half to take a 43-6 victory over the visiting Miami Sharks. Paula Balekana led the way for the home side, the Fijian winger scoring three tries with flanker Jed Melvin also impressing with a brace.
It was an ominous sign for the Sharks when Balekana weaved his way down the left sideline to score with fans still looking for their seats. To their credit Miami shook off the rough start and fired back through Shane O’Leary, the flyhalf notching a pair of penalty goals to close the gap to one point.
Little did Miami know but their scoring for the day was already at an end. With progress slowed near midfield and the clock now in the red, Faletoi Peni spotted some vacant grass in behind the Sharks defense. Peni’s kick was perfectly weighted and Balekana had just enough speed to beat Martín Elías to the ball, leaving it 12-6 at the intermission.
A little over five minutes into the second half and Belakana had his hat trick, an easy finish after Melvin had sucked in the defense and offloaded to his open winger. Peni knocked over three points and then Balekana and Melvin were at it again. This time the winger danced down the sideline and the flanker bundled over from in close to make it 29-6 to the home side.
As the try was being awarded, O’Leary was sent to the bin for a seatbelt tackle on Balekana’s break. The winger was indifferent, and soon tore up the middle with his co-conspirator Melvin again in close support to fight through a tackle and grab his double.
With the result well beyond doubt the crowd were treated to some slight-of-hand by Peni, whose no-lock pass set Jack Reeves away on a 50-meter sprint for try number six. A last-minute yellow card to Malakai Hala-Ngatai for a high tackle proved otherwise fruitless for the Sharks.
The Free Jacks stay at home with a Saturday afternoon booking against the San Diego Legion next weekend. Later on the same day the Sharks play host to the Houston SaberCats in Fort Lauderdale.
| SCORING |
NEW ENGLAND 43
Tries (6) – P. Balekana 3 (2′, 40’+1′, 46′), J. Melvin 2 (69′, 73′), J. Reeves (76′)
Cons (5) – F. Peni 5/6 (3′, 47′, 70′, 74′, 77′)
Pens (1) – F. Peni 1/1 (53′)
YC (1) – M. Hala-Ngatai (79′)
MIAMI 6
Pens (2) – S. O’Leary 2/2 (8′, 24′)
YC (1) – S. O’Leary (70′)
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tevita Sole (17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai 47′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Connal McInerney 59′), 3 Jone Koroiduadua (18 Kaleb Geiger 55′), 4 Piers von Dadelszen (20 Josh Larsen 66′), 5 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (19 Conor Keys 59′), 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti (21 Oscar Lennon 55′), 10 Faletoi Peni, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank (22 Isaac Olson 7′-19′, 21′), 14 Brock Webster, 15 Harrison Boyle (23 Jack Reeves 70′)
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Alec McDonnell (17 Ma’ake Muti 48′), 2 Kirby Myhill (16 Sean McNulty 48′), 3 Reinaldo Piussi (18 Alex Tucci), 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Mauro Rebussone (19 Braemar Murray 55′), 6 Manuel Ardao (22 Tomás Bekerman 72′), 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Ronan Foley (20 Marques Fuala’au 55′), 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.) (21 Lautaro Soto Ansay 74′), 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Guiseppe du Toit, 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Tomás Malanos, 15 Martín Elías
Not used: 23 Josh McAdam
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, April 6
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local
Weather: cloudy, 47°F (8°C), wind S 5-10mph (8-16km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
| HIGHLIGHTS |
