
Hounds Take Down Eastern Conference Leader in Week 10 Clash
QUINCY, MA- The Chicago Hounds moved to 5-3-1 on the season after dispatching the New England Free Jacks, 26-20, at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The clash between the two Eastern Conference leaders did not disappoint and it took a last-minute defensive stand for the Hounds to walk away victorious.
Flyhalf Adriaan Carelse led all scorers on the day with 11 points, taking his season total to 67 points, a new career-high for the versatile South African playmaker. On defense, Carelse completed 17 tackles- a new season-high. Flanker Mac Jones was stellar on the day as well, scoring a brace of tries and registering 19 tackles, including two dominant tackles. Hooker Dylan Fawsitt scored his seventh try of the season, extending his scoring-streak to four-games.
First Half
Jones got the scoring started in the eight minute. New England hooker Andrew Quattrin was dinged for a penalty and the Hounds kicked for the corner. The set piece has been one of the catalysts behind the four-game win streak and that was no different on Sunday morning. After a successful lineout throw by Fawsitt, the forwards drove the maul in for the first try. Carelse couldn’t connect on the conversion attempt, but the Hounds struck first and took a narrow 5-0 lead.
The Free Jacks added their first try roughly ten minutes later via flanker Sita Baker. The 2023 Major League Rugby MVP, Jason Potroz, didn’t connect on the conversion attempt and the score was tied as the first half water break approached.
In the 21st minute, New England’s Quattrin was called for another penalty. In a rare instance, the Hounds opted to kick for points, the first time kicking a penalty attempt since week five against the Seattle Seawolves.. Carelse nailed the attempt, his seventh successful penalty kick of the year. The Hounds’ discipline cost them a few minutes later, and Potroz prepared a penalty attempt of his own. The kick was good and once again, the score was even. The next ten minutes were back and forth rugby and saw the Free Jacks get called for a couple of penalties.
In the 35th minute, the Hounds had the rock around midfield, and scrumhalf Jason Higgins sent a box kick up in the air, testing the Free Jacks under the high ball. Left wing Nate Augspurger went up to challenge for the ball but wasn’t able to come up with it. However, New England flanker Sita Baker didn’t like the contest in the air. He added some extra curricular activities after the whistle and was sent off with a yellow card because of it.
As a result of the yellow card and penalty, the Hounds kicked for the corner. The maul was operating once more and Fawsitt went over for his seventh try of the season. The Hounds took a 13-8 lead into halftime.
Second Half
After halftime, Mac Jones got the scoreboard ticking for the Hounds once more, with one of the best Chicago tries of the season. The flanker showed an insane amount of skill to pick up his third try of the year and increase the margin to ten, 18-8. Carelse nailed the conversion to increase it even more, 20-8, after 43 minutes.
But the Free Jacks responded almost immediately. After receiving the kickoff, the Hounds set up their exit strategy while backed up deep in their own 22. Higgins sent up a box kick, but the Hound defenders chasing down the kick overshot the return man. He broke free from a couple of tackles before putting away Free Jacks’ wing Paul Balekana away for a try. The kick was no good, 20-13.
Carelse added two more successful penalty kicks in the 53rd and 59th minutes, extending the lead to 13 points, 26-13. With only 20 minutes left to play, it seemed like the Hounds would be able to hold on. But it wasn’t easy. Balekana struck back right after the second-half hydration break and brought the game within a single score, 26-20.
The Hounds had to hold their defensive line, backed up right on their own end zone, for seemingly the entire last ten minutes of the game. But they managed to win a penalty as the clock turned red, securing the biggest win in the history of the franchise.
With the win, the Hounds move to 5-3-1 on the season and remain in second place in the Eastern Conference table standings. They now turn their attention to Old Glory DC, another Eastern Conference rival, who travel to SeatGeek this Saturday. The two teams last met in week three, when they drew 22-22. Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the game, set to kick off at 5PM, can do so here.
Chicago Hounds: 26
Tries: Maclean Jones (x2), Dylan Fawsitt
Conversions: Adriaan Carelse (1 / 3)
Penalties: Adriaan Carelse (3 / 3)
New England Free Jacks: 20
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