North American Rugby Database

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The Miami Sharks host the defending champion New England Free Jacks for an Eastern Conference clash in Florida!

The New England Free Jacks are the first team to clinch a 2025 playoff spot after the NOLA Gold failed to earn a point in Tuesday’s clash with Old Glory DC, but the Free Jacks will want to lock up home advantage. They come off a well earned victory over the Chicago Hounds in Round 13. The Miami Sharks are still fighting for their first ever playoff appearance, and will want to build on a brilliant road victory over the NOLA Gold in Round 12.These teams have met 3 times in the past, with the Free Jacks holding a 2-1 series lead.

With a well played, bonus point victory for the Sharks, the head-to-head series is tied up at 2-2 with the Free Jacks looking a little off their usual game. The Florida heat led to many handling errors, but a pair of crossfield kicks gave Miami two tries and a narrow lead at half time, and a Guiseppe Du Toit score early in the 2nd half kept the momentum on the side of the hosts. Keeping the scoreboard moving through the boot of Shane O’Leary, the Sharks were up to a 23-7 lead before the Free Jacks scored their first points of the 2nd half through Wian Conradie in the 63rd minute.

The Sharks would hit back with a 4th try just 5 minutes later, and although the Free Jacks would add a 3rd try of their own in the dying stages, they had too much work to do and not enough time. The Sharks take the full 5 points and snap the Free Jacks’ 7-game win streak, while New England take 0 points.