Free Jacks Aim To Clinch No. 1 Seed Against Anthem RC In Regular Season Finale At Home

New England Free Jacks vs Anthem R.C

When: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 5pm EST

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy, MA

Watch: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network 

Match Preview: 

The Free Jacks host their final regular season game of the year this weekend against Anthem, where they’ll look to secure the no. 1 seed in the East and home field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Entering this round, New England remains atop the Eastern Conference with a 10-5 record after a 27-17 loss in New Orleans. The Free Jacks currently lead NOLA by 2 table points.

In last week’s match against NOLA, captain Mitch Jacobson led the team with 10 tackles, while flanker Jed Melvin was second with 9. In the backline, Reece Macdonald scored 7 points and ran for 100 meters at flyhalf, while winger Mitch Wilson ran for 96 meters and led the team with 8 carries.

Scouting

Anthem is on the road this week for one last time, after succumbing to Chicago 38-29 in their last home game of the season the previous week.

Anthem currently sits last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 0-15, and a total of 7 points, after managing to obtain 6 try bonus points and 1 losing bonus point in the course of their first MLR season. 

Anthem is a young, daring team that likes to take chances with ball in hand, and capitalize off of the opposition’s mistakes. In their first season in MLR they have displayed an exciting brand of rugby through a mix of young talented American players, with the likes of Free Jacks loanee Junior Gafa, combined with experienced MLR veterans such as Te Rangatira Waitokia, Cliven Loubser and Jake Turnbull.

All time against Anthem

1-0