Free Jacks faced off with the Chicago Hounds in Eastern Conference Clash
The New England Free Jacks faced off with the Chicago Hounds in Eastern Conference Major League Rugby play on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The match featured a celebration of Quincy’s 400th birthday and a budding rivalry between the two clubs.
The match kicked off with heavy possession from the Hounds, with the Free Jacks clashing with them shortly after every touch of the ball. After a heavy couple minutes of phases and trying to break through the Free Jack’s tight defense, Mason Flesch found a crack in the defense and scored a try for the Hounds five minutes into the game for a 5-0 Chicago Hounds’s lead (conversion failed).
After constant back and forth of possession, the Free Jacks found their footing 15 minutes into the match when Joe Johnston pushed through into the try zone with a beautiful maul from five meters out (conversion by Dan Hollinshead), bringing the score to 7-5, Free Jacks.
The Hounds answered back with a breakthrough try by Dylan Fawsitt at 24 minutes (conversion by Chris Hilsenbeck), bringing the score to 12-7. Another try followed quickly at 29 minutes by Noah Brown, pitching the match’s score at 17-7.
Just when the half was drawing to an end, the Free Jacks fought deep in the pitch to climb back up the scoreboard. With an intensely physical first half, Paula Balekana swung around the left of the pitch at 41 minutes and placed the ball right inside the try zone to clean up the first half of the match and bring the score to 17-12, Hounds.
By the half, the Free Jacks had 43 percent of possession compared to the Hound’s 57 percent, making for constant clashing and tackling throughout the entire first half of the match.
The chipyness continued at the beginning of the second half. Both teams were awarded yellow cards, Jeronimo Gomez Vara (Free Jacks) and Tim Swiel (Hounds). At 51 minutes, Zurabi Zhvania was given a yellow card.
After an awarded penalty to the Free Jacks, the stadium roared as the Free Jacks used a maul to get to the tip of the try zone, allowing for Sam Caird to get into the try zone, but the try was reviewed and ruled off. With a second chance, the Free Jacks reset and Jed Melvin slammed down into the try zone for a clutch fiver for the Free Jacks at 52 minutes, tying up the match at 17.
After ten minutes of work, phases and unwinding Chicago’s defense, Cam Nordli-Kelemeti split the defense for a beautiful run into the try zone (conversion by Hollinshead), pitching another five up for New England and bringing the score to 24-17, Free Jacks.
Following the review and reversal of a third try of the match, the Free Jacks opted for a penalty kick at 72 minutes by Hollinshead, bringing the score to 27-17, the final score of the match.
The match concluded with the Free Jacks keeping their undefeated record at home and uping their record to 9-0-3 (45 points). The Free Jacks shutout the Hounds in the second half which kept a losing point away from the second place Hounds (38 points). The Free Jacks are now winners of seven games straight.
Jed Melvin shared his thoughts on preparing for such a physical match and the mentality crucial for success on the pitch.
“Our training is pretty physical and I think we’re such a close group of boys and hang out outside as well so you don’t want to let the guys down. I think that’s what really brings the defense alive,” said Melvin.
The Free Jacks will face off with the Miami Sharks on Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the match on ESPN+. A win would guarantee the two-time defending MLR champions a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference and a home playoff game in Round 1 of the playoffs.
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Written By Maeve Fitzgerald,
“I am a 20-year-old junior at Suffolk University. I’m studying Journalism with a print/web concentration, though I have experience with camera work and packages as well. I was born in Dorchester and raised in Braintree, MA, a town just on the end of the red line bordering the city. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved sports, music, movies and writing. I grew up in a passionate sports family with raging Boston accents, so I’ve felt at home living in the heart of the city and Boston’s North End. Growing up on the red line, I’ve always found myself drawn to the city and life on the go. When I’m not bartending at work or writing an article, I’m usually spending time with friends and family, shopping on Newbury street or catching a Boston sports game– whether it be at the stadium or from the comfort of a friend’s couch. I’ve been a bartender since I was 18 years old; therefore, meeting new people and taking their stories with me has been a glimpse at my future in journalism. My studies have me excited to pursue a career in print/web or broadcast journalism!”
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