Day: June 22, 2024

2024 – RD 17: Utah Warriors v Dallas Jackals

The Dallas Jackals visit Zion’s Bank to face the Utah Warriors. With Utah already eliminated and Dallas already clinched (but not locked into their 4th place), this game was more about pride for the hosts.

Utah started slow (a pattern of their 2024 season), and the Jackals raced out to a 3-24 lead, securing the try BP before the water break. I’m not sure what was in the Warriors’ water bottles, but they absolutely exploded, scoring 47 unanswered points and 8 tries to completely rattle the Jackals. Michael Manson scored 4 tries himself to take his season total to 12, leading MLR. Now in the final 15 minutes of the game, the pendulum began to swing back to the Jackals, who scored 4 more tries themselves to come close to salvaging a win from the Warrior’s onslaught. The clock was not on their side however, and they fell just short. The Warriors take the victory, with a final score of 50-46.

With 8 tries per team, this game equals an MLR record for combined tries scored in a single game, 16 tries set in a 2022 clash between Old Glory DC and Rugby New York (49-59), which was also the highest scoring game in MLR history with 108 total points scored!

v
v

2024 – RD 17: Miami Sharks v Old Glory DC

The Miami Sharks host Old Glory DC at Autonation Sports Field in Fort Lauderdale for their final home game of their inaugural season.

The Florida heat and humidity made this game a low scoring game defined by handling errors and set pieces, with the scoring split the by half time break. The hosts scored their entire 17pts in the first half with tries from Ben Bonasso and Manu Ardao, to take a 17-0 lead into the sheds as the visitors really struggled with the conditions. They recovered slightly in the second half, scoring 12pts of their own on tries from Cory Daniel and a late John Powers score, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. The final score was 17-12 to the Sharks after DC intentionally kicked the ball dead themselves, essentially taking the loss.

There was a reacon for this however, the Sharks needed either a BP win or to hold DC to 0pts, so had the Sharks scored again, it would push DC out of losing BP range and the Sharks playoff hopes would still be alive. With DC taking the losing BP, they clinch their spot in the post-season, and eliminate the Sharks. Despite the win, the Sharks playoff push ends here after an impressive inaugural season in which they defeated NOLA, New England, and now DC.

v

2024 – RD 17: Anthem RC v Chicago Hounds

Anthem RC host the Chicago Hounds in their finalhome fixture of their inaugural 2024 season.

Anthem put up a spirited fight and probably their finest performance of the season, but a late surge from the Hounds on the back of a pair of Dylan Fawsitt tries carried them to a 29-38 victory on the road, and clinching the first MLR Playoffs spot in their 2nd season. They also leap-frog Old Glory DC and now sit 3rd in the Eastern Conference.

v

2024 – RD 17: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

The NOLA Gold host the New England Free Jacks in Louisiana, with a chance for the visitors to lock in the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Gold had other ideas however. Although the Free Jacks got on the board first through a Reece MacDonald penalty, NOLA hit back with 3 quick tries to stun the guests and take a 19-3 lead by the first water break. Former Free Jack Taniela Filimone scored NOLA’s third tryr for his 10th of the 2024 season.

The scoreline remained 19-3 at the break, but Foster DeWitt struck back for the Free Jacks early in the 2nd half, cutting the deficit to 9 after the conversion. The Gold would respond through Jordan Jackson-Hope and their lead was back up to 14pts, but the Free Jacks wouldn’t go away, responing themselves and cutting the lead to 7 with 20 minutes to play. Only a Rodney Iona penalty in the 75th minute finally dispatched the Free Jacks, who remain top of the Eastern Conference, but now only 2pts ahead of the Gold.

v