News July-20-2024
Major League Rugby Semi-Finals Saturday Match Review
By Joe Harvey
The first day of the 2024 Major League Rugby play-offs was full of excitement.
The Dallas Jackals pulled off a surprise win in their first Western Conference semifinal, while the New England Free Jacks were forced to dig deep to beat Old Glory DC.
Here’s how the two matches played out…
New England Free Jags 33-29 Old Glory DC
The defending champions, the New England Free Jax survived a scare from Old Glory DC to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 33-29 win.
Connor Buckley scored three tries for DC as they went quarter-to-two with New England in Massachusetts, and reigning MVP Jayson Botros’ start led his team into next week.
It was the Free Jacks who opened the scoring at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Fijian broke free from the flank before finding Reece McDonald on the shoulder to throw the ball to Paula Balekana on the left wing.
After Botros added three more points from a penalty kick, Buckley would get his first try when Tevita Nakali spotted his scrum-half in a flowing attacking move.
The half-back soon had another as Jason Robertson’s quick thinking put the free jacks at odds.
A disastrous break from the fly-half break led to Lautaro Pavaro’s carry, who found Buckley to score with an offload.
Just before the break, New England were delighted when Jed Melvin reduced the deficit by throwing himself across the whitewash from close range.
With half-time on the horizon, the Shield holders delivered two hammer blows.
The first was another Potros penalty and the second was a try to Oscar Lennon from Wayne van der Bank’s pinball in midfield.
Both teams played cautiously in the second half.
Buckley added to his hat-trick with a confident run after 15 minutes of play, while Boutros and Robertson traded penalties and were sent off.
Conflict.
Houston Sabercats 22–34 Dallas Jackals
The Dallas Jackals marked their first playoff appearance with a 34-22 win over the Houston Sabrecats.
The Jackals’ 80-minute match saw them score five tries to book themselves a historic win.
From the first minute, the Jackals came out firing in the first half for the Sabercats.
Although the hosts struck first through an AJ Alatimu penalty, Dallas would not give up.
Ronan Foley rumbled at the try line after the carries severely outplayed the Western Conference’s top-ranked defense.
To keep the momentum going, a close score by Connor Winchester allowed the visitors a nine-point lead.
Against a team of Houston’s quality, Dallas’ Augustine Cavaliers tested their mettle.
Dautalatasi kept the ball on Tasi’s endless drive, helping Seamo Smith score the Sabrecats’ first try, and Lurits van der Skayf converted a confident carry just short.
In response, Dallas took the first penalty awarded to them and scored all three points from Juan Dee Oliver’s opener to level the scores.
There was another twist just before half-time as Tomas Cubila finished off a brilliant strike.
More reasons for Dallas’ confidence in the second half.
With Gideon van Wyk in the sin bin to go inside the side, the Jackals had more space to exploit.
A try finally came when Jackals back Sam Duifua latched on to Tasi’s failed pass, sending the Fort Worth native screeching over the try line offload to Jason Tidwell.
With less than five minutes to play, Dallas scored a famous victory.
Oliver latched on to a hacked ball that continued to cause Houston problems, sending the Sabercats all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
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