North American Rugby Database

Report

The New England Free Jacks host Old Glory DC at Fort Quincy for the Eastern Conference Championship and a spot in the 2023 MLR Championship Final.

Despite the bye from the Eliminator round, the Free Jacks showed no signs of rust, with Le Roux Malan dotting down under the posts just 4 minutes in from a turnover won by the combined efforts of Taniela Filimone & Reece MacDonald. Not long after, DC found themselves in their own end again, as Andrew Quattrin went over for a 2nd Free Jacks try following a lineout. Jayson Potroz pushed the conversion wide, but added a penalty just before the hydration break to give the Free Jacks a 15-0 lead.

Old Glory DC stemmed the tide in the next 20, only allowing New England another 3pts from the boot of Potroz right before the half-time whistle. The 18-0 deficit at Fort Quincy was a huge task for the visitors to overcome. The DC defence was under pressure almost relentlessly but held on until the 2nd half water break, scarcely having an opportunity to launch an attack themselves. Just after the hydration break, the hosts put the nail in the coffin. A Kurt Baker knock-on gave Ben LeSage the opportunity to send a grubber through which bounced in the end zone and Taniele Filimone pounced on it for another try. The Potroz conversion made the score 25-0 with just over 25 minutes to go.

DC were not playing for pride, and finally broke their goose egg with a try from Thretton Palamo from a great crossfield kick from Tito Diaz Bonilla, who added the extras but it was too little too late. This was the final score of the game which ended 25-7. Old Glory can hold their heads high about their first MLR post-season campaign, and the Free Jacks punch their ticket to Chicago, and will be watching to see who will join them from San Diego & Seattle.