NA Rugby Database

Recap

The Dallas Jackals, sporting their Texas-themed City Edition jerseys, host the Chicago Hounds at Choctaw Stadium.

The visitors got on the board first through Kian Meadon, a successful penalty on his Hounds debut. The Jackals would be first over the whitwash however, as Jason Tidwell tore down the wing and finished in the corner to give the Jackals their first lead of the game. The Hounds would hit back through Mason Flesch, restoring a narrow 3pt lead for the guests at the first water break. Both sides struggled with discipline over the next 20 and neither was able to shift the scoreboard before the half time whistle.

Minutes into the 2nd half, the hosts turned on the gas and Sam Tuifua rampaged through for a 2nd Dallas score, a 7-pointer! This was followed 3 minutes later by another cracking try, finished by Juan-Dee Oliver to suddenly give the Jackals a 19-8 lead early int he 2nd half, which was extended through a Martin Elias penalty! The Hounds, slightly shellshocked and now down 22-8, were able to compose themselves and get back into the game, halting the Jackals onslaught before hitting back with a try of their own through Charlie Abel from close range shortly before the 2nd half water break.

The game bogged down at this point, with both sides struggling in the heat and humidity, and unable to make anything happen to change the scoreboard until, with 5 minutes to go and seemingly out of nowhere, MLR rookie Noah Brown crashed through a number of would-be tacklers to bring the Hounds within 4. Carelse nailed the conversion, now 2pts down with minutes to play. The Hounds tried twice to get Carelse in a position for a drop goal, but both times the Jackals chargers forced him to abort, eventually forcing a knock-on that would end the game.

This win is a huge step for the Jackals’ playoff aspirations, especially given that Utah and LA both lost in the West. In the East, the Hounds are still sat in 3rd and in a playoff spot, but it’s an uneasy one with DC right behind and the Miami Sharks still lurking.