North American Rugby Database

Report

Anthem RC host the defending champion New England Free Jacks at American Legion Memorial Stadium during Round 9 of the 2026 MLR season.

With 3 weeks remaining of the regular season, the New England Free Jacks currently in 5th only separated from 6th placed Anthem by points difference. The term ‘must-win’ may have been overused a bit during the shortened 2026 MLR campaign, but it cannot be overstated how badly both of these sides need a victory to keep their playoff chances alive. Both on a 2-5 record, the New England Free Jacks have struggled to maintain any sort of momentum so far this season, and despite bringing in significant reinforcements at the signing deadline including club legends Paula Balekana and Andrew Quattrin, few of these reinforcements have seen action yet this season. Anthem RC are reeling after two heavy defeats to Chicago then Seattle, and are on a 4-game losing streak. Now back at home, can the Rising Stars turn things around?

This game proved a messy, raining, low scoring affair. Anthem RC had the momentum through the first 20 minutes, camped in the Free Jacks half for the vast majority of the time. Repeat offences put the visitors down to 14 men, but despite all the territory and the lion’s share of possession, the Rising Stars were unable to open the scoring. This trend continued until just after the 30 minute mark. Anthem half-broke the Free Jacks line, but a pass that should’ve meant an easy score didn’t go to hand, and New England’s Joel Hodgson scooped it up and raced the other way. Oscar Lennon ran a good support line to finish the score and put the first points on the board before Hodgson added the extras. Completely against the run of play, the Free Jacks piggybacked off this score to shift the momentum, and had a second and third score called back after reviews. Oscar Lennon’s score would be the only points of the first half.

The second half started with both sides feeling each other out and both making mistakes. It would be the 48th minute before Anthem got on the board through a close range effort from Makeen Alikhan that was unsuccessfully challenged by New England. Luke Carty added the extras to even things up at 7, but the Free Jacks would hit back shortly afterwards, also from short range as Maliu Niuafe crossed to restore the visitors lead. The 7-12 scoreline would remain until around the 70 minute mark, with both sides trying to break the stalemate but Anthem making errors at crucial times stifled them, especially at the lineout. The boot of Joel Hodgson would extend the Free Jacks lead to 7-15 from a penalty, before Cam Gerlach scored off a fortunate bounce (unsuccessfully challenged by Anthem) in the final minute to take the final score up to 7-20 to the Free Jacks.

A must-win game for both sides, the Free Jacks keep their playoff hopes alive but fail to secure the try bonus point, so move to 1pt ahead of Old Glory DC with the Flags still to play. Although the scoreline doesn’t really reflect how close this game was in actuality, this could be the season for Anthem RC, who fall to 2-6 and a five-game losing streak. They now sit stone dead last in the standings.