Match Recap: Free Jacks Send Seattle Home with only 2 points and Clinch a Home Playoff
The New England Free Jacks battled out a win for their last in-season home game against the Seattle Seawolves on June 1 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Just 30 seconds into the start of the match, the Seawolves set the tone with a breakaway, lobbing the ball to Toni Pulu (missed conversion) and setting the match at 5-0, Seawolves.
At 15 minutes, the Seawolves met the try zone again for a try by Dewald Kotze (conversion Rod Iona), bringing the score to 12-0, Free Jacks still trailing behind.
A quarter of the way through the match, the Free Jacks dominated in territory (69 percent) and possession (58 percent), though the scoreboard was yet to reflect their efforts.
At 26 minutes, Captain Rhyno Herbst from the Seawolves was awarded a red card for a high tackle, giving the Free Jacks a one-man advantage for the following 20 minutes.
Before fans could even catch their breath after the red card play review, the Free Jacks clutched their first try of the match at 27 minutes off an awarded line out, pushing Seattle toward the try zone and allowing for Jone Koroiduadua (conversion by Jayson Potroz) to snipe a fiver for the Free Jacks, tightening the game to 12-7.
At 36 minutes, the Free Jacks worked the ball from the very right of the pitch out to Paula Balekana at the far left starting from a line out at five meters. Balekana charged the try zone and scored the second try for New England, tying the game up 12-12.
Right before the end of the first half, the Seawolves’ Iona completed a penalty kick, inching them ahead of the Free Jacks and finishing the half 15-12, Seawolves.
By half, the Free Jacks were still dominating in territory (72 percent) and possession (62 percent) and outweighing Seattle in carrying meters 217-107.
Just two minutes into the second half, Balekana pulled through for another try, barrelling into the right side of the try zone and setting the tone for the second half, pitching the score to 17-15, Free Jacks.
The momentum didn’t end there. At 46 minutes, Balekana caught a missed penalty kick from the Seawolves and proceeded to kick it forward, catch it and head toward the try zone where the ball found Ben Lesage. Lesage leapt into the try zone and scored another try for the Free Jacks (conversion Brock Webster), bringing the score to 24-15, Free Jacks.
At 57 minutes, Webster snagged the ball from the pitch and darted toward the try zone, attempting to kick the ball forward to himself, when Balekana came through for his third try of the game to snag the ball (conversion Webster) and bring the score to 31-15, Free Jacks.
The Seawolves answered back with a try at 64 minutes by Malembe Mpofu (conversion Eddie Fouche), bringing the score to 31-22.
The Free Jacks were awarded a penalty shortly after at 68 minutes. Webster completed the kick for an extra three points for the Free Jacks, inching them up 34-22.
At 71 minutes, Jeronimo Gomez Vara was awarded a yellow card, cutting the Free Jacks down a man for the remainder of the match.
Seattle used this to score another try at 72 minutes (missed conversion) after a five meter line out by Kotze once again, bringing the match to a one-try difference at 34-27, Free Jacks leading.
At 78 minutes, the Free Jacks were awarded a penalty kick, completed by Webster for three points, bringing the score to 37-27, Free Jacks.
To wrap up the match, the Seawolves brought the final score to 37-30 after Fouche completed a penalty kick, Free Jack’s win.
Vice Captain Le Roux Malan shared what he thought the team was successful in to clutch the win.
“When we keep it simple and we don’t over play. We proved our discipline in the second half which is huge and we know when we keep our penalty count below ten, we probably will stick it through,” said Malan.
New England Free Jacks Head Coach Martin shared his thoughts about the team’s win and momentum going into the end of the season and start of playoffs.
“Next week we’re down in New Orleans, that’s gonna be really hot and sticky, so we’re going to have to plan it really well to keep the boys fresh. Getting the bonus point today helps us secure a home playoff here. The job’s not done, we want to roll into the playoffs with momentum, so it’s important we do a really good job at preparing them against the strong NOLA team,” said Coach Martin.
The New England Free Jacks will play again against NOLA Gold on Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in on ESPN+.
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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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