Hounds' Errors Prove too Costly in Week 4

News Mar-24-2024

Hounds’ Errors Prove too Costly in Week 4

CHICAGO, IL- The Chicago Hounds fell to 1-2-1 on Sunday afternoon, losing 22-15 to the New England Free Jacks. The Hounds will look back at this game with a bitter taste in their mouth, as they beat themselves for the most part. Despite the loss, however, the attack had their best performance of the season, and chances were being created consistently. It is up to the Hounds to finish those scoring opportunities moving forward.

Chicago kicked off the New England to start Week 4 and the Free Jacks worked a couple of phases before booting it back to the Hounds. After a couple of phases, New England picked up a loose ball and that would be the story for the majority of the first quarter- back and forth rugby, often sloppier than hoped for, with both teams feeling each other out.

Things did look promising for Chicago in the sixth minute. The Hounds won a penalty at the scrum and kicked for the corner. After winning the lineout and going through a couple of phases, scrumhalf Nick McCarthy hit center Bryce Campbell on the weak side of the ruck. Campbell spotted a half gap and shot for it. The Free Jacks defense did well to control the center, but he got his hands free and connected with flanker Mason Flesch for a well-time offload. The powerful Canadian forward got the ball over the line but was held up.

The Free Jacks got a scrum penalty of their own in minute 15. Flyhalf Jason Potroz, the 2023 MLR Player of the Year, kicked for touch. New England didn’t connect on the ensuing lineout, however the ball bounced into the hands of Potroz. A charging Dylan Fawsitt narrowly missed New England’s playmaker and then he spotted a gap in the Hounds’ defensive line. He was through but still had to make a man miss in order to score. Potroz did just that and raced down the sideline for the first points of the game. He connected on the kick, giving New England a 7-0 lead.

It was more back and forth rugby for the next 10 minutes. Chicago experienced a scary moment in the 27th minute when wing Nate Augspurger went down with injury. Rookie Noah Brown relieved him on the left wing and had a strong outing, registering 88 meters on 7 ball carries.

The Hounds’ best attacking opportunity came in the 33rd minute. Chicago had a clear overload working to the right side of the field and George Merrick would have scored his first try of the season. However, New England’s fullback knocked the ball on, squandering the clear scoring opportunity, and the Hounds got a penalty try for his foul play. They’d also have a man advantage for the next 10 minutes due to a New England yellow card.

Potroz dotted down his second try of the day right before halftime. New England had a scrum near their ten-meter line and attacked the weak side off of it. The flyhalf hit the Free Jacks’ left wing with a well-timed pass and he raced down the sideline before rookie Brown caught up and dragged him down. But the wing saw a streaking Potroz flying down the field and popped up an offload to the flyhalf. Again, he was down the sideline and in for a score. He missed the conversion and the teams went into halftime with a 12-7 scoreline.

Halftime

Chicago: 7

Penalty try

New England: 12

Jason Potroz try (2), Jason Potroz conversion

The second half started out similarly to the beginning of the game. Both teams testing each other out and getting close to some scoring opportunities but just not converting. Chicago got dinged for a penalty right before the second half water break and Potroz connected on the penalty kick attempt, widening the margin by another 3 points, 15-7. The kick made it a two-score ball game and the Hounds would need to make some magic happen in the final 20 minutes if they wanted to walk away with any table points.

The clock continued to wind down but the Hounds finally got points on the board in the 70th minute. New England’s Kaleb Greiger was called for a penalty in the scrum and Chicago fullback Adriaan Carelse slotted the penalty attempt for three points. The Hounds were now within striking distance and everything was to play for in the game’s final moments.

The Free Jacks took control of the game in the 75th minute with a seven-point try via replacement prop Malakai Hala. The score was pivotal for multiple reasons. First of all, it made it a two-score game again. With under five minutes to go, and Chicago needing two tries, this made a win unlikely. Additionally, if teams lose by seven points or less, they are awarded a losing bonus point on the Major League Rugby table standings. Hala’s score erased that losing bonus point for Chicago.

The Hounds earned a penalty in the 78th minute, however. They kicked for touch and won the lineout before replacement flanker Lucas Rumball peeled off. He found a charging Mac Jones running at a perfect angle and Jones barrelled his way in for his first score of the year. Carelse hit the conversion kick and made it a 22-17 ball game.

The losing bonus point is crucial for Chicago. While it is still early in the season, it’s nice to keep updated on the MLR table standings. The Hounds sit in third place for the Eastern Conference with seven table points. Without the losing bonus point, they’d be in fourth place right now. Every single point matters at the end of the season.