Free Jacks roll over Gold and storm into history books

The Free Jacks were unstoppable at Fort Quincy on Sunday as they rolled over the NOLA Gold by a final score of 57-5. In doing so New England became the first team in Major League Rugby history to win 13 games in the regular season. They have now clinched both a spot in the Eastern Conference Final and coveted home field advantage for the playoffs by finishing first overall.

New England’s scrum was dominant throughout and set the platform for a Wian Conradie break early in the first half. Wayne van der Bank took it further and when the ball was recycled it went wide right where Mitch Wilson was waiting in acres of space to score.

A successful lineout drive from 10 meters out delivered the second try to Mills Sanerivi. NOLA’s defense stood up to repel a couple advances and held van der Bank up over the line. After the drop-out the Free Jacks settled for a three-pointer off the boot of Beaudein Waaka.

Another scrum penalty gave New England a throw-in deep in Gold territory, but the lineout was stolen by the Gold. The visitors would immediately cough up possession, however, and Paula Balekana floated a wide pass to Dougie Fife for a third try. Waaka’s conversion rang off the right upright.

Joe Johnston broke around the outside to set another Free Jacks attack in motion. After several phases the ball went wide to Wilson who crossed for a double on the stroke of halftime.

The Gold came out with greater conviction in the second half. They pressed into New England territory but Malcolm May was held up and their frustration continued.

NOLA began to throw caution to the wind and it cost them 14 points in a span of two minutes. A loose pass from Nick Feakes landed in Le Roux Malan’s hands and the center raced free to score undert the posts. Sixty seconds later he was in again after a JP du Plessis pass was picked off by Wilson.

Two more tries went to the home side. The ball was flung wide right, then pulled back to the left and Johnston smashed over from close range. Wilson would then get his hat trick on the end of a Jack Reeves pass over the top of a NOLA defender. The winger converted his own from a tricky angle to make it 57-nil.

As time expired the Gold would finally cross the line. Kevin Sullivan was held up, but from the restart JP Eloff darted through a gap and freed Aaron Matthews out wide for the finish. Cam Dolan stepped forward to attempt the conversion but it sailed wide of the uprights and the final whistle sounded.

Both teams face a short turnaround before Friday evening games. The Gold bring their season to a close on the road against Rugby ATL, while the Free Jacks play host to Rugby New York.

 

SCORING

NEW ENGLAND 57
Tries – M. Wilson 3 (5′, 40′, 66′), M. Sanerivi (9′), D. Fife (33′), L. Malan 2 (57′, 58′), J. Johnston (62′)
Cons – B. Waaka 5/6 (6′, 10′, 40’+1′, 59′, 63′), No kick (57′), M. Wilson 1/1 (67′)
Pens – B. Waaka 1/1 (28′)
YC – W. Conradie (78′)

NOLA 5
Tries – A. Matthews (80′)
Cons – C. Dolan 0/1

 

TEAMS

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Quentin Newcomer (17 Kyle Ciquera 51′), 2 Mills Sanerivi, 3 Erich de Jager (18 Tevita Sole 51′), 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Terrell Peita (20 Cam Davidowicz 51′), 7 Joe Johnston (19 Justin Johnson 63′), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland (21 Holden Yungert 55′), 10 Beaudein Waaka (23 Harrison Boyle 63′), 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank (22 Jack Reeves 55′), 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Dougie Fife

Not used: 16 Foster DeWitt

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon (17 Kevin Sullivan 55′), 2 George Sharpe (16 Alex Lopeti 51′), 3 Brian Nault (18 Dino Waldren 50′), 4 Malcolm May (20 William Waguespack 51′), 5 Taylor Krumrei (19 Billy Stewart 50′), 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short (21 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha 55′), 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Robbie Coleman (23 Ross Depperschmidt 55′), 11 Nick Feakes, 12 Aaron Matthews, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Harley Wheeler (22 Devereaux Ferris 59′), 15 JP Eloff

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Chris Micheletti (Canada)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)