Day: June 29, 2024

2024 – RD 18: San Diego Legion v Seattle Seawolves

The final game of the 2024 regular season is another chapter of the most storied rivalry in MLR, as the Seattle Seawolves travel down the west coast to San Diego to face the Legion at Snapdragon Stadium in what is a preview of the MLR QF matchup as Seattle (#2) will host San Diego (#3) in the playoffs.

It was the San Diego Legion who took this chapter of MLR’s most historic rivalry, with a 45-33 comeback victory after trailing 3-21 after half an hour. The Legion improve to the same record as Seattle, 11-5 on the season but finish 2pts behind the Seawolves in the standings. A step back from their MLR-best 15-1 season in 2023, but still a very good record for both teams who comfortable qualify for the post-season once again.

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2024 – RD 18: Houston SaberCats v Dallas Jackals

The League-leading Houston SaberCats wrap up their regular season by hosting their Texas rivals, the Dallas Jackals at SaberCats Stadium. This game would serve as a preview of the Western Conference Semi-Final, as Houston (#1) was already locked in to play Dallas (#4) in a playoff Texas Tussle!

The hosts burst out of the gates, with Rob Cobb scoring just minutes in and, despite an early yellow card to Captain Johan Momsen, maintained a 7-0 lead until the 26th minute when Justin Basson was able to extend it. Houston added two more before the HT whistle to secure the try BP and looked like they would take a 26-0 lead into the sheds before Dallas hit back with a 7-pointer from Ben Fry to halt the SaberCats momentum.

Fry’s try may have spurred the Jackals on, as the 2nd half was dominated by the guests, who pulled it back to 26-21 thanks to tries from Tomas Cubilla & Dewald Kotze, before a 77th minute Tomy Malanos try tied things up at 26-26, aand Juan-Dee Oliver nailed the conversion to give Dallas a slim lead with minutes to go. Unfortuntely, the Jackals are the masters of the losing BP in 2024, and with the clock deep in the red, conceded a penalty with which Davy Coetzer made no mistake. these 3pts were the only score of the half for Houston, to secure a 29-28 win and end their regular season on a high.

Houston finish with a 14-2 record and 67pts, 10pts ahead of 2nd places Seattle in the West, and top of the entire MLR. As mentioned, they are already locked in to play the Jackals again in the Quarter-Finals, who fell to 6-10 on the season following this loss. The Jackals have picked up NINE losing bonus points this season, tied with the Utah Warriors for a single-season MLR record.

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2024 – RD 18: Chicago Hounds v Miami Sharks

The Chicago Hounds finish their 2024 Regular Season by hosting the Miami Sharks at Seatgeek Stadium during the Hounds’ ‘Dawg Town’ Block Party.

The Hounds emerged as 38-26 victors to lock in the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. Dylan Fawsitt scored a brace to take his 2024 total up to 12 tries, and the Hounds are now locked in to playing the NOLA Gold in the 2024 QFs.

The Miami Sharks’ inaugural season comes to an end, having failed to qualify for the playoffs but enjoyed an impressive first year ending with a 6-10 record including a shock victory over the reigning champion Free Jacks.

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2024 – RD 18: Old Glory DC v NOLA Gold

Old Glory DC host the NOLA Gold at the Maryland Soccerplex as both sides close out their 2024 regular seasons.

It was the hosts that ended their season on a high note, with a 27-24 victory over the Gold. With Chicago winning earlier in the day, the Flags were locked in to playing the New England Free Jacks in the QFs, and the NOLA Gold will be hosting the Chicago Hounds as the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

 

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2024 – RD 18: New England Free Jacks v Anthem RC

The New England Free Jacks wrap up their 2024 regualr season by hosting Anthem RC at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, who they also played in their first game of the season.

The hosts emerged as comfortable 40-7 victors to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-5, and will now face Old Glory DC in the MLR quaterfinals.

Anthem RC finish their 2024 season without a win, recording the 3rd 0-16 season in league history but recording the most point of any of those winless seasons. The hastily put together partnership between MLR, USA Rugby, and World Rugbywill now have a full off-season to prepare for their 2025 campaign, where they will look to build on some admirable performances and secure their first victory.

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