North American Rugby Database

Report

The New England Free Jacks host Rugby New York at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in the first Championship Series game in Free Jacks history, the Eastern Conference Final!

Finishing as #1 in the Eastern Conference, New England had the luxury of a bye last week, where they would’ve watched Rugby New York comfortably dispatch 2021 Runners-Up Rugby ATL on the road in the Eastern Eliminator to earn their spot in the Conference Finals. The winner of this match would become the Eastern Conference Champion and move on to face the Seattle Seawolves for the MLR Shield.

New York were put on the back foot almost immediately thanks to a Free Jacks lineout steal that was sent out wide. Jesse Parete hit a great angle to break the New York line, and a lovely inside pass from Le Roux Malan put Beaudein Waaka through a gap to score. Waaka converted his own score to give the hosts an early lead. Waaka‘s boot would extend the lead to 10-0 just over 10 minutes later after the Free Jacks won a penalty in kick range following a number of New York forays into Free Jacks territory. New York got on the board shortly after, as Jack Heighton gathered a chip through and released Andrew Coe, who was stopped just short. After recycling the ball it was sent out wide to Benjamin Bonasso to finish in the corner. Jason Emery converted. Waaka & Emery slotted another penalty each before the half, taking the score to 13-10 to the hosts at the break after Wian Conradie held up a New York attack that made it across the line but not down.

The home side extended their least early in the 2nd half again through the boot of Waaka after New York were penalised for going offside. This would be the final Free Jacks score of the afternoon as the sides then went end-to-end with both sides winning breakdown turnovers to diffuse dangerous situations. Ellis popped a short ball to release Andrew Coe who managed to offload to Nehe Milner-Skudder to dart in for the try. Fresh on the field, Sam Windsor nailed the conversion to give the visitors their first lead of the game heading into the final 10 minutes. A few minutes later, Reegan O’Gorman was handed a yellow card for a shoulder charge following a New York break, and the guests took their chance. After a few phases a cut-out pass found Andrew Coe in space and this time the Canadian would finish himself. Windsor nailed the 2pts again to give New York a 16-24 lead, and the Free Jacks were unable to respond.

The Free Jacks, the #1 team in MLR this season, are left wondering about what could have been, and start planning for 2023. Rugby New York become the Eastern Conference Champions and move on to the Championship Final against the Seattle Seawolves to fight for the MLR Shield.