Day: April 20, 2024

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2024 – RD 8: NOLA Gold v Miami Sharks

The NOLA Gold host the Miami Sharks at the Gold Mine for a Southern Showdown in the Eastern Conference!

The Gold come into this game on the back of 3 games with 0 table points, and desperate for a win to halt their skid. The 1-5 Sharks, despite being an expansion side, have had some close games go against them and will be looking for a big win on the road. The game went back and forth for much of the first half, with the lead changing hands a number of times before a Reinaldo Piussi try gave Miami the lead, and a Videla penalty extended that lead to 15-22 at the half.

The 2nd half started badly for the hosts, with OJ Noa sent to the bin early, before Miami’s Nick Grigg dotted down for his 2nd, and Marcos Young scored a 7pointer just two minutes later to take the Sharks to a 15-36 lead. The Gold would hit back through a Jonah Mau’u try in the 56 minute, before the Sharks went a man down as Alec McDonnell was sent to the bin. Taniela Filimone grabbed another try for NOLA to secure the try BP, before things descended into chaos. Nick Grigg was given a yellow to take the Sharks down to 13 men, before Jarred Adams was awarded a yellow to hamstring the Gold, and Nick Feakes was given a straight red in his NOLA Gold return for an off the ball incident. The Sharks emerged from the chaos as 27-42 victors, their first road victory in MLR.

The Gold continue to skid and may face further suspensions following Feakes’ incident. With a BP victory for the Sharks, this game definitely shook up the Eastern Conference!

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2024 – RD 8: New England Free Jacks v Seattle Seawolves

The MLR-leading Seattle Seawolves travel across the country to face the Eastern Conference-leading New England Free Jacks in the clash of the Conference Leaders!

The Seawolves took the first points of the game early through the boot of Mack Mason, before Wayne van der Bank struck back with the first try of the afternoon to give the Free Jacks the lead. Both sides struggled to find consistent possession through the first half, but the Seawolves kept the scoreboard rolling with 3 penalty kicks, followed by a Dan Kriel try on the stroke of half time to give the visitors a 7-14 lead at the break.

The second half was a different story. Although it took 13 minutes, the Seawolves scored twice in quick succession through Kara Pryor on his Season and Seawolf debut, and captain Riekert Hattingh tearing down the wing, to rattle the hosts and take a 7-26 lead. The Free Jacks wouldn’t roll over however, and began to find their feet as the game entered the final quarter. The hosts were awarded a penalty try with 12 minutes to go, and Joe Taufete’e was given a yellow card to boot. Kaleb Geiger found a gap in the line for the former NY prop to show surprising speed 4 minutes later, which Potroz converted to bring the Free Jacks within 8. In possession and attacking once more with the clock in the red, the hosts attempted to score 1 more try to secure both bonus points, but it wasn’t to be as the ball was intercepted and the game ended.

The Seattle Seawolves stay atop of MLR, and win the 2024 iteration of the ‘Coffee Cup’, a trophy contested annually between the Seattle Seawolves (Starbucks) and the New England Free Jacks (Dunkin’ Donuts).

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