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The New England Free Jacks may not have enjoyed their home opener but they did enough to take a 21-15 win over the Toronto Arrows in a scrappy match at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Conditions were difficult with frigid temperatures combining with blowing rain and sleet throughout.
Beaudein Waaka was identified as the danger man prior to the match but an Arrows mistake gave the Free Jacks flyhalf an early chance to make his mark. An up-and-under was missed completely by the cover, and Waaka was there to control the ball with his foot before popping off the deck to Joe Johnston for a converted try just three minutes in.
The game stopped for several minutes when Spencer Jones went down after a heavy collision. Mitch Richardson came into the midfield for the Arrows as Jones exited for an HIA. When play resumed the Arrows had an attacking scrum but they were shut down by the New England defense and instead settled for three points from the boot of Sam Malcolm.
Jones returned to the pitch but there would be no further scoring plays in the half. Snow began to fall and the intensity of the wind increased as the teams headed into the sheds.
Toronto were pinned in their end to start the second half. A free kick gave away possession at a 5-meter scrum and the New England forwards took full advantage. After several phases Slade McDowall slipped between two defenders to score with Waaka adding the conversion.
A reply came after a New England penalty conceded field position. Sam Malcolm spotted Brock Webster in space in the left sideline and fired a perfectly-weighted cross kick that landed in the winger’s hands for the try. The wind took the conversion but it was now a 6-point game.
The Arrows moved back into scoring position but a knock-on saw the opportunity slip away. Cole Keith was then given a yellow card for what looked like an innocuous bit of shoving after the play. Toronto could only point the finger at themselves soon after as McDowall somehow evaded five defenders en route to his second try, with Waaka’s kick landing after ringing off the right upright.
Josh Larsen was binned for some extracurricular activity at a maul to give the Arrows possession with time winding down. As the clock rolled over full-time the forwards kept the pressure on until Jack McRogers drove in from close range, with Malcolm’s conversion securing a losing bonus point.
Both teams will play road games next Saturday. New England head to Texas to face the Austin Gilgronis, while the Arrows square off against the Utah Warriors.
SCORING
NEW ENGLAND 21
Tries – J. Johnston (3′), S. McDowall 2 (49′, 66′)
Cons – B. Waaka 3/3 (4′, 50′, 67′)
YC – J. Larsen (72′)
TORONTO 15
Tries – B. Webster (53′), J. McRogers (80’+2′)
Cons – S. Malcolm 1/2 (80’+3′)
Pens – S. Malcolm 1/1 (37′)
YC – C. Keith (61′)
TEAMS
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Foster DeWitt (17 Quentin Newcomer 62′-65′, 69′), 2 Pieter Jansen (16 Mills Sanerivi 67′), 3 Erich de Jager (18 Tevita Sole 52′), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Stan van den Hoven (19 Reegan O’Gorman 67′), 6 Joe Johnston, 7 Slade McDowall, 8 Terrell Peita (20 Cam Davidowicz 57′), 9 John Poland, 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Harry Barlow, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Dougie Fife
Not used: 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Harrison Boyle, 23 Justin Johnson
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Cole Keith, 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Jack McRogers 72′), 3 Isaac Salmon (18 Tyler Rowland 71′), 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Paul Ciulini (19 Adrian Wadden 67′), 6 Tomás de la Vega (22 James O’Neill HT {18 Tyler Rowland 65′-71′}), 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Brock Webster, 12 Spencer Jones (23 Mitch Richardson 26′-38′) (21 Chris Bell 75′), 13 Ueta Tufuga (23 Mitch Richardson 71′), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Conor McCann
Not used: 17 Marc-Antoine Ouellet, 20 Ollie Nott
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Nick Tricarico (USA)
TMO: Amelia Luciano (USA)
