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Two great sporting cities will meet for the first time in professional rugby when the Chicago Hounds host the New York Ironworkers on Sunday. The defending champs want to take another step forward in their march towards the postseason, while the newcomers are in search of their second franchise victory.
Chicago have lost six straight since the edged Dallas in March. Their loss to ATL last weekend continued their trend of fading in the final quarter. Sam Harris has largely stuck with the same lineup, however, with only one change to the starting lineup.
Justice Nkombua drops to the bench with Michael de Waal handed the start on the blindside flank. Hugh Roach isn’t quite ready to come back but Lindsey Stevens is fit enough to take up a spot as reserve hooker, and Duke Krishnan is back in the match day squad as backup lock.
Eagles pair Michael Baska and Bryce Campbell again are resigned to reserve duty with Billy Meakes the skipper and Sid Shoop given another start at scrumhalf. Notably both Paddy Ryan and Chris Mattina will celebrate their 50th Major League Rugby appearances, perhaps appropriately against their former club.
New York have struggled at times this season but celebrated their biggest win of the campaign against NOLA last weekend. Despite sporting a losing record they are in third spot in the east, just one point back of DC entering the weekend. Only two changes have been made to the match day squad, and only one to the run-on-side.
Teihorangi Walden is out this week but Quinn Ngawati is ready to step in at inside center. Otherwise the starters are identical to last week. A failed HIA has sidelined Tevita Langi with Anthony Parry coming in as reserve loosehead prop.
The forecast for Sunday is calling for light rain and mild temperatures at kickoff, with gusty winds. That suggests the set piece will be front and center. New York should have the superior lineout but Chicago might fancy their chances in the scrum. The Hounds feature a strong bench this week which could make things interesting, but the Ironworkers enter as favorites.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on Marquee Sports Plus in Chicago and the MSG Network in New York, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White, 2 Mason Koch, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Cam Dodson, 5 John Cullen, 6 Michael de Waal, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Sidney Shoop, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 George Thornton, 18 Charlie Abel, 19 Duke Krishnan, 20 Justice Nkombua, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 JP Eloff
NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kaleb Geiger, 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Hamish Dalzell, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jason Emery, 11 Teofilo Fidow, 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Nick Feakes
Replacements: 16 DaQuan Perry, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Sam Davies, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Benjamín Bonasso, 21 Cristian Rodriguez, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Brooklyn Hardaker
Date: Sunday, May 14
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 13:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 14:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports Plus, MSG Network, The Rugby Network
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: David Zaccaria (USA) & Andrew Dunn (USA)
TMO: Kahlil Harrison (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
