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The New England Free Jacks made a statement with a 33-18 victory over the New York Ironworkers at Mount Vernon on Sunday. Played in a windy conditions, the visitors second a bonus point while also denying their hosts any points at all in the rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final.
New York lost Andrew Coe in the first minute of play with a head injury, from which he did not return. Quinn Ngawati came in on the right wing as the Free Jacks went on the attack. Penalties put the visitors in scoring position and Joe Johnston powered over the line from close range, but he was held up and the Ironworkers cleared their lines.
Kara Pryor was then sent to the bin for a high shot on van der Bank. It gave the Free Jacks another shot at the line and again Johnston was driven over but held up. Instead a Ngawati line break on a counter-attack from his own end led to a penalty goal from Sam Windsor to open the scoring.
The Free Jacks were controlling territory and after a Reece MacDonald break won a penalty on New York’s 5-meter line. They opted to tap and go, with Cam Davidowicz cutting back to the short side and crashing over to finally get the try they wanted. Jayson Potroz couldn’t find the posts kicking into the breeze.
Soon after another penalty and a dart from MacDonald up the middle had the visitors knocking on the door again. New York’s defense was sucked in and John Poland fired a long cut-out pass to a wide-open Paula Balekana for a second try. This time Potroz found his range from wide out.
The Ironworkers fired back before halftime. Windsor slotted a three-pointer, and then with time up on the clock an attacking lineout set the platform for a try. The drive was stalled but Connor Buckley’s over-the-top pass found Ngawati open and he dove into the corner to make it a one-point game.
New England were quickest out of the gates in the second half. A penalty put them deep inside New York territory, and then a wide ball from Potroz put Balekana in a one-on-one against Nick Feakes. The Free Jacks winger was too strong and fought through the tackle attempt to score his brace.
Penalties against the visitors gave the home side an immediate response. The forwards went to work at a driving maul and with a little help from the backs the ball went over the line, with Pryor getting the credit for the grounding. Windsor slotted the extras and New York had their first lead of the game.
That would be their last impression on the scoreboard. The siege on the Ironworkers line resumed and after several attempts to breach it van der Bank was held up. Johnston won a turnover and again the blue shirts were back on their heels until at last van der Bank ran a short line and reached out of the tackle to score. The kick from Potroz put the visitors six points to the good.
Discipline continued to plague New York in the final quarter. Potroz would land three out of four changes at goal, the last coming as the Free Jacks won their third scrum penalty of the day.
The defending champions now sport a losing record heading into their bye week. They will stay at home to prepare for their Sunday, April 2, match against rugby ATL. New England move into top spot in the East and are back on the pitch on Saturday for a home clash opposite the Dallas Jackals.
SCORING
NEW YORK 18
Tries (2) – Q. Ngawati (40’+2′), K. Pryor (46′)
Cons (1) – S. Windsor 1/2 (47′)
Pens (2) – S. Windsor 2/2 (17′, 38′)
YC (1) – K. Pryor (12′)
NEW ENGLAND 33
Tries (4) – C. Davidowicz (22′), P. Balekana 2 (28′, 42′), W. van der Bank (57′)
Cons (2) – J. Potroz 2/4 (29′, 58′)
Pens (3) – J. Potroz 3/4 (61′, 66′, 80′)
TEAMS
NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 Tevita Langi 63′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Kaleb Geiger 63′), 3 Nic Mayhew (18 Sam Davies 56′), 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.) (19 Hamish Dalzell 67′), 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Pago Haini (20 Joe Basser 60′), 9 Connor Buckley (21 Eamonn Matthews 67′), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Teihorangi Walden (22 Jason Emery 60′), 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe (23 Quinn Ngawati 1′), 15 Nick Feakes
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera (17 Foster DeWitt 48′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Mills Sanerivi 48′), 3 Cole Keith (18 Joel Hintz 48′), 4 Semisi Paea (19 Sam Fischli 67′), 5 Conor Keys, 6 Cam Davidowicz (20 Mitch Jacobson 53′), 7 Joe Johnston, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland (21 Holden Yungert 62′), 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank (22 Spencer Jones 79′), 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Mitch Wilson (capt.), 15 Reece MacDonald (23 Taniela Filimone 77′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jack Gohl (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Marty Steffens (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
