Round Four Recap: New England Free Jacks 24, Seattle Seawolves 27
The “Coffee Cup” rivalry between the New England Free Jacks and the Seattle Seawolves returned to Starfire Stadium on Saturday, the first time since the teams played since the 2024 Major League Rugby Championship last year.
With the home opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium and the championship banner raising set for this weekend (Saturday at 2 p.m..), the Free Jacks sights are aimed high and their focus is on the promise of a third championship title and making league history.
Coming into the Round 5 Major League Rugby (MLR) match, New England and Seattle had an extensive history. The Free Jacks had never lost at Starfire Stadium.
Right off the kick, it was obvious the Free Jacks put in the work this week. Just six minutes into the game, Simon-Peter Toleafo scored a try after dancing around multiple Seawolves defenders with a 20 meter run. Jayson Potroz made the conversion, bringing the score to 7-0.
Within minutes, team captain Joe Johnston scored another try for the Free Jacks. Potroz made the conversion to increase the lead to 14-0.
The Seawolves, two-time MLR champs themselves, responded with two Cameron Orr tries at 15 minutes and 22 minutes to close within 14-10.
Four minutes later, Potroz made a penalty kick increasing the Free Jacks lead to 17-10.
With the 30-minute mark fast approaching, Divan Rossouw added a third Seattle first half try. The Free Jacks again answered with Teleafo scoring and Potroz making the conversion.
At the half, the score sat at 24-15.
The second half featured a lot of physical play between the two clubs and the Free Jacks put up an outstanding defensive fight. Mika Krusetry scored a try for Seattle at 46 minutes; Rodney Iona made the conversion, bringing the score to a razor-thin 22-24, New England.
The Free Jacks held until nearly the very end, managing to stave off the Seawolves until Malacchi Esdale scored a try with just two minutes left to play, bringing the final score to 27-24.
The Free Jacks begin their home schedule on Saturday with five points. New England welcomes NOLA Gold to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy for their 2025 season home opener at 2 p.m. Before the match, the Free Jacks will unveil the 2024 MLR Championship banner at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Before this weekend’s match, the Free Jacks will join their Boston sport peers in the rafters of Logan Airport’s Terminal C with a special banner raising by Masport on Thursday at 11 a.m.
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Written By Ana Wolfe,
Ana Wolfe is a senior political science and journalism student at Suffolk University. She was born and raised on Cape Cod but loves living in Boston and experiencing city life. In addition to writing for the Free Jacks, she is also a staff writer for the Suffolk Journal, an office assistant, and the assistant manager at Brandy Melville. Outside of school, she enjoys going to the movies, spending time with her friends, and exploring the city. In the future, she hopes to move to a larger city and write for a newspaper or magazine. While she is not a journalism major, she credits the Suffolk Journal with helping her discover a passion for writing, whatever genre it may be. She’s very excited for the opportunity to work with the Free Jacks as a news bureau reporter to learn more about the sport of rugby while also being able to write about it. She didn’t picture herself ever being a sports writer, but she’s grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in her writing. She’s also very excited that her writing will help bring the community closer to the Free Jacks and bring them the recognition that they so well deserve.
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