The Free Jacks Have Advanced To The Eastern Conference Final For The Third Year In A Row

By: Rachel Maccarrone and Elsa Edgar

QUINCY- The New England Free Jacks, back home in Quincy after a three-week break, showed their resilience in the first round of MLR (Major League Rugby) playoffs. Having faced off against Old Glory DC two other times this season, with both teams winning by one point each match, the Free Jacks broke that one-point difference winning 33-29.

Starting off strong, three minutes into the match, Paula Balekana ran down the left sideline and off-loaded it to Reece MacDonald, who scored a beautiful try. Jayson Potroz made the conversion, putting them in the lead 7-0. Old Glory responded with a try from Connor Buckley and a conversion from Jason Robertson, tying the score 7-7. 

At the ten-minute mark, Potroz made a 45-meter penalty kick to give his team their second lead of the match, 10-7. A few moments later, Old Glory’s Buckley dove into the try zone to score his second try of the match. Robertson made the conversion, putting DC in the lead 10-14.

At the 15-minute mark, Potroz attempted to score a try but was stopped at the goal line. The Free Jacks opted for a penalty kick, which Potroz successfully converted, narrowing the gap to 13-14. Moments later, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz scored a try for DC, followed by a successful conversion and 21-13 lead. 

At the 30-minute mark, the Free Jacks demonstrated their strong teamwork with powerful runs and ball control. Jed Melvin’s try, with a successful conversion by Potroz, brought the score to 20-21. Just upon halftime, New England earned another penalty kick and Potroz was successful from 48 meters putting the home-side up 23-21.

Moments later, Wayne van der Bank ran up the field and made a pass to Oscar Lennon, who scored a try. The match was Lennon’s first-ever playoff appearance. The Free Jacks scored 17 straight points to close out the half. Notably, the Free Jacks had a 100% rate on lineouts, a significant improvement from their previous performances and a key factor in their success in this match. 

“We have a highly connected group of players so we know that if we keep it tight we are just going to fight that much harder in the opposition so I think that does a lot for our team, and we have a bunch of new players we had to step up, and it took time for them to get familiar with one another but we are seeing that,” said Tom Kindley, General Manager of the Free Jacks. 

Coming out of the half, Buckley made his third try of the match for Old Glory but the conversion by Robertson failed. With the score 30-26, Another penalty kick was awarded to the Free Jacks, and Potroz made a successful conversion, making the score 33-26.

At the 66 minute mark, the visitors were awarded a penalty for a late hit on Robertson by Potroz. After recovering from the hit, Robertson penalty kick was good making the final score 33-29 and leaving the crowd of 4,000 ecstatic, rowdy and ready for another Eastern Conference final at home.

“It is a new year, new season, new group, new experience for all of us and it is awesome to see the growth in our squad,” said Captain Jayson Potroz. 

The Free Jacks will play against NOLA Gold or the Chicago Hounds on Saturday in Quincy for the Eastern Conference Final at 1:00 PM ET, battling for a spot at the MLR Championship.