Chicago Hounds Win 54-31 in Spite of RFCLA Comeback
Published on April 21, 2024 under Major League Rugby (MLR)
Rugby FC Los Angeles News Release
Rugby Football Club Los Angeles came into the 8th week of the Major League Rugby season against the Chicago Hounds at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, looking for their second win. RFCLA "are still in the hunt for that fourth place playoff spot," commentator Will Hooley said before kickoff.
RFCLA struggled to contain a powerful Hounds side but kept in the match until the final whistle, losing 54-31, and bringing their record in Major League Rugby's Western Conference to 1-5-1. The Hounds now have a 4-3-1 record in the Eastern Conference.
The Hounds capitalized early after an RFCLA knock-on from the kickoff, playing it out to the backs and to wing Nate Augspurger (No. 11) to take a 5-0 lead. Fly-half Adriaan Carelse (No. 10) missed the conversion.
RFCLA and the Hounds tussled for possession in the first half, with the Hounds winning the battle for territory and pressuring RFCLA with bursts from their backs on counterattacks. The RFCLA pack managed to stop two tries from deep inside RFCLA territory and counter with runs from flanker Semi Kunatani (No. 6) but in the 12th minute after a Kunatani run and a kicked chased deep into Hounds' territory, the referee reviewed the Hounds' attempt and ruled that flanker Ben Landry (No. 6) had touched it down for the try. The Hounds extended their lead to 12-0.
RFCLA counterattacks kept the scoreline close. A blindside burst by flanker Max Katjijeko (No.7) followed by a chip by wing Rory Van Vugt (No. 11) and a catch and run by Matt Anticev, making his first start for RFCLA at fly-half (No. 10), allowed inside center Dan Hollinshead (No. 12) to cut the Hounds' lead to 19-5.
In the 25th minute, RFCLA drew a penalty after Hounds wing Augspurger tried to run out of his own 22. RFCLA scrum-half Niall Saunders (No. 9) took it quickly and with a 4-1 advantage in the backfield, Hollinshead took it over the try line. His conversion made it 19-12 and RFCLA were back in the game.
RFCLA mistakes - nine handling errors by the 33rd minute and four penalties by halftime- continued to give the Hounds possession. Big defensive plays by hooker Ben Strang (No. 2) and his pack kept the Hounds away from the try line until a missed RFCLA catch off a bouncing kick in the 36th minute allowed the Hounds' Landry (No. 6) to go over for his second try, earning the Hounds a bonus point for scoring four tries and a 26-12 lead after the conversion.
RFCLA remained on the back foot, making 89 tackles to the Hounds' 38 in the first half. The Hounds retained 71 percent of possession, giving away two penalties to the Hounds' four. Strong runs by Augspurger and Meakes and fluid passing among the backs resulted in a fifth try in the 41st minute that was overruled as No. 8 Connall Boomer ran into his own player before taking it into the try zone. Going into halftime, the Hounds remained on top, 26-12.
A yellow card for Kunatani in the first half was RFCLA's 13th this season.
HALFTIME
RFCLA continued to pressure the Hounds in the second half with some hard hits and big kicks. A Van Vugt breakaway from deep inside his own half in the 51st minute followed by two runs and an offload by Kunatani took the ball into their opponents' 22, but with the advantage on the open side, a reckless pass resulted in the ball being called back. "When they come alive, they look strong," said commentator Hooley. RFCLA pushed on, but after a maul on the try line, Kunatani couldn't put it down. "I like when they play with tempo," said Hooley. A Saunders breakaway after a big carry from No. 8 Jason Damm just moments later brought RFCLA to within seven, 26-19. Tas Smith (No. 21) replaced Saunders in the 56th minute. Hounds No. 9 Jason Higgins came off and was replaced by Nick McCarthy (No. 21).
RFCLA got some breaks in the second half from Hounds errors and forced a few more. But relentless pressure and an unlucky knock-on in the 59th minute kept the Hounds on the offense. Meakes broke through for his second try of the match, under the posts, making it 33-19. A perfect chip kick in the 61st minute by Hounds substitute scrum half McCarthy was recovered and touched down by wing Noah Brown (No. 14), giving the Hounds a 40-19 lead after the conversion.
A Hounds try in the 64th minute was overruled after a forward pass, and RFCLA wouldn't quit, trying to run it out of their own 22. But the Hounds's backs proved too much for RFCLA. In the 68th minute, Hounds lock Mason Flesch (No. 4) took it over for another try. The conversion by wing Luke Carty stretched the Hounds' lead to 47-18.
A yellow card against Hounds flanker Maclean Jones (No. 7) in the 70th minute would put RFCLA up a man for the rest of the match. Kunatani broke away for a try immediately, earning RFCLA a bonus point. "They're two tries way from getting in the lead," said Hooley.
RFCLA remained threatening until the final minute, with runs by Kunatani and the forwards, and a Kunatani pass to wing Jack Shaw in the 77th minute resulted in a try, giving RFCLA another bonus point in spite of trailing 47-31. Kunatani has been "superb," with a "top quality performance," Hooley said. The Hounds' Augspurger scored his third try in the 81st minute, giving his team a 54-31 victory.
RFCLA play the New England Free Jacks on April 28 at 6:15pm local time at home at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California.
Major League Rugby Stories from April 21, 2024
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- Utah Takes Down San Diego on the Road - Utah Warriors
- Chicago Hounds Win 54-31 in Spite of RFCLA Comeback - Rugby FC Los Angeles
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