FREE JACKS ROLL WITH AN OVERSIZED WIN VS NOLA GOLD 50-3
QUINCY, MA – The New England Free Jacks delivered a clinic in how to turn hard tackling and staunch defense into quick offense on Sunday as they converted a succession of turnovers into long-distance runs for tries throughout a 50-3 rout of NOLA Gold.
The Free Jacks poured it on in the second half as center Wayne Van Der Bank finished a great feed from Slade McDowell after a long run slicing through the NOLA Gold defense in the 49th minute, Wilson scored his second of the game from scrumhalf John Poland and MacDonald on a set play out of a scrum in the 54th minute, scrumhalf Kieran McClea raced down the sideline and delivered to Conradie for a try in the 70th minute, and Davidowicz delivered through the uprights in front of the hometown crowd for a seven-point try and the final score in the 77th minute.
The Free Jacks next host the Toronto Arrows on Sunday at Veterans Stadium at 4 p.m. New England scored a Major League Rugby-record 80 points in an 80-5 rout at Toronto back on April 15.
Player of the Game: Reece MacDonald led a dominant Free Jacks defense that turned dominant tackles into turnovers and long scoring runs throughout the 80 minutes.
Play of the Game: A highlight sequence in the 20th minute when Le Roux Milan’s steal found Paula Balekana, who booted the ball head and hit John Poland with a flick pass. Poland then returned the favor with a flick pass of his own about 10 meters out before Balekana dove into the try zone for his 11th try of the season.
What it Means: The Free Jacks improved to 10-2 and opened up a huge 15-point lead in the Eastern Conference on second-place Old Glory DC with 48 points. Fifth-place NOLA Gold fell to 5-8.
