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Melvin J. (53'), Nordli-Kelemeti C. (58'), Ciquera K. (78')
Tries
Swiel T. (11'), Brown N. (43')
Hollinshead D. (53', 59')
Conversions
Hilsenbeck C. (12', 44')
Penalties
Hilsenbeck C. (18', 61')
Well, the task was pretty clear for both teams, a win will get them the Conference Title and a place in the Championship final in Rhode Island!
Within a few seconds of the game starting, new England opted for the cheap shot off the ball to see if they could rattle the Hounds. Fawsitt took one to the chin off the ball, officials saw it on the replay and awarded a penalty in the Chicago 22 inside the 1st minute.
Chicago took the metres gained from early ill-discipline by New England. Making their way early on to the Free Jacks 5 metre line but the Free Jacks defence was like lightning stopping the Chicago attack. Ending up with a turnover penalty to clear their lines.
Brown then got his timing all wrong when chasing down a high ball, caught Webster, the New England player in the air. Lucky to avoid a card but got a stinger in the shoulder to remind him to get the timing right next time. 7 minutes in and this is a fast paced by physical game already.
Kick tennis began for a period, with Chicago getting the best returns. It led to a lineout near the New England 22; Chicago then went coast to coast a couple of times. They had to remain really patient, until it opened up on the open side. Where Swiel received the ball, after rolling the tackle and over the try line. Hilsenback managed to sneak the ball through the sticks for the conversion on the right side of the pitch. 0 - 7 to the Hounds after 12 minutes, and a faster start for Chicago than they had last weekend.
After the restart, Chicago box kicked clear. New England received on the halfway line, passing across the line. Campbell came flying out the line to intercept for the Hounds close to halfway. He just had to get to the line and dive down, Balekana was in chase though. With a metre of so to go to the line, Balekana throws an arm over the top of Campbells shoulder, he only manages to dislodge the ball and Campbell crashes into the ground without the ball. WHAT A TRY SAVING TACKLE THAT WAS!! 14 minutes on the clock and Balekana might have saved the Free Jacks in this game.
Chicago kept the foot on the New England throat though from the restart. They were going through the hands, chip and chase, you name it they were trying to get over the Free Jacks try line by any means possible. The Hounds win a penalty close to the New England 22 and opt for the sticks Hilsenbeck nudges over again. 0 - 10 after 18 minutes for the Hounds.
Fort Quincy was pretty much silenced, this must be the original game plan to silence the home crowd. However, from the restart Swiel drops the ball and gifts New England a scrum inside the Chicago 22. New England squander the opportunity and easily turned over by the Hounds. A huge 45m clearance kick by Hilsenbeck removes the threat for the time being. Its the first water break after 20 minutes.
Chicago made a few handling errors but they are so quick over the breakdown, manage to get the ball back once again. New England are matching the battle though with their phenomenal line speed. The kick tennis territory battle kept the forwards busy turning in circles but ends with New England getting a penalty close to the Hounds 10 metre line for playing the 9. The Free Jacks go for the corner rather than putting points on the board. 26 minutes on the clock and New England are still going for the tries even after being 10 points behind. Chicago are too quick at the breakdown again and stop any attack from the New England phases. They are on fire at the breakdown.
29 minutes on the clock, Chicago are now on the New England 22. But after the lineout, the Free Jacks return the work rate at the breakdown winning a easy turnover to clear away. The clock ticked on towards half time and both sides were deep in the trenches battling for territory. 36 minutes on the clock now, the Free Jacks get another scrum for a knock on at the Hounds 22. But New England couldn’t execute the grubber through to space, blocked by Campbell which would have been a certain try in behind. The arm wrestle continued till the clock went red. Half time, Hounds lead 0 - 10.
Hilsenbeck restarts the match, New England are awarded a early penalty for sealing off by the looks of it. Chicago manage to regather after the line out and go through the phases, finding space from offloads on the shoulders, making loads of metres. They are finally stopped on the line, but the ball is recycled to Hilsenbeck with a sublime cross field kick for Noah Brown to gather in the corner and extend the Hounds lead 3 minutes into the half. Hilsenbeck makes the difficult conversion look easy too, 0 - 17 to the Hounds after 45 minutes.
The arm wrestle upfront continued but the line speed and defence for both sides is electric. Both teams are trading turnovers every time they look like they are getting through. After 52 minutes though, New England finally enjoyed a spell in the Hounds 22. They protected the ball well at the breakdown, Jed Melvin managed to sneak around the breakdown and slide the tackle. He happily dived over the try line under the post, giving Dan Hollinshead an easy conversion to finally put points on the board for the Free Jacks. 54 minutes now, 7 - 17, is the comeback on?
New England put the ball back over the top over the restart, Balekana nearly gets in front of the ball chase. Hounds manage to retain the ball on the line, even with it spilling out. Abel gathers it and does what Tighthead props do best! Kick! He clears the ball deep inside the Hounds try area and puts on their 10-metre line!
New England have the bit between their teeth now; the Hounds defence are in full retreat mode. Camped on the 5-metre line for a few minutes while under advantage for offside, the constant pick and goes are thwarted. Nordli-Kelemeti sees the space on the openside at the ruck, pulls away and is able to dive over the line for another Free Jacks try! Hollinshead does the job with the conversion too! 60 minutes now and the gap is closing! 14 - 17 at Fort Quincy.
Chicago forces an early penalty response though in the 60th minute. New England don’t roll away and Hilsenbeck will have an easy kick in front of the posts, just outside the 22. Hilsenbeck does not miss these in his current form! 14 - 20 with 18 minutes to play now.
Hollinshead looks to put Chicago back in their 22, but misjudges the 50 - 22 attempt, putting the ball out on the full and New England are marched back into their own half. The Hounds set off with the driving maul and make 10 metres easily, Free Jacks can only stop it illegally. Gifting a penalty just outside the 22 on the far side though for Hilsenbeck to extend the lead again. The wind catches it and its dragged wide to the left of the sticks. The Hounds can’t put anymore daylight between them just yet.
Chicago spend the majority of the remaining time, as the clock ticked towards the 70th minute, defending their try line with everything they could. The Free Jacks could not find a way through and finally make the error trying to get into the channel. A knock on close to the Chicago 5 metre Line, scrum time now. Chicago get the ball out of the scrum and then start to set up for the box kick. The box kick is charged down! New England chase the ball down and score the try! Hold on, the TMO is involved now. New England managed to creep offside at the charge down! No try and it remains 14 - 20 after 70 minutes.
Both sides make errors allowing territory gain, but New England get to the Hounds 22 in the 76th minute. They are barraging forward phase by phase though. They get to the Hounds line and literally binding 3 or 4 players at the pick and go to force over the line. The Hounds somehow keep them at bay until the 78th minute! Ciquera manages to roll over a chop tackle and rolls over the line to dot down under the posts! Easy conversion adds the extras! Just over a minute remains but New England now lead 21 - 20.
Chicago manage to win the ball back from the restart, they opt to go full attack mode! They force New England into infringing at the breakdown, Hounds get a penalty kick between the New England 10 and 22. Hilsenbeck points to the sticks, this is to win the match!
The clock is in the red! The stream of the game dies and who knows where the kick has gone. Until it is relayed the kick hits the post and comes back out. Game over! New England are off to Rhode Island!
