Old Glory DC Season Finale
The curtain fell on Old Glory DC’s season on Saturday as they fell to the New England Free Jacks 25-7 in the Eastern Conference final. The loss closes what has been DC’s most successful season to date, winning a franchise record seven games along with their first playoff victory. Despite Old Glory’s recent success and confidence, the Free Jacks’ stifling defense and dominance in possession proved to be too tall a task. While the Free Jacks move on to their first MLR championship game, Old Glory will now begin the long process of evaluating this season’s progress and determining a path to continued success.
In a certain respect, it was clear that momentum was swinging New England’s way from the beginning. DC didn’t gain their first sustained possession until 20 minutes into the game and found themselves already down by 18 at that point. In the fourth minute, New England center Le Roux Malan took an offload from flyhalf Jayson Potroz and burst through four DC defenders for a seven-point try. Five minutes later, New England executed a brilliant five-meter maul for five more points. These scores in quick succession seemed to shock DC, and there was no time to slow the game down and adjust. Once Old Glory were able to collect the ball, their offensive approach was panicked. Despite getting an attacking lineout in the 20th minute, their passing coming out was wayward and eventually caused winger Marcos Young to be tackled into touch. Over the next six minutes, Old Glory enjoyed a spell of possession, but were repelled repeatedly by the Free Jacks’ fortress until a forward pass from Jack Iscaro ended DC’s opportunity.
Though Old Glory’s defensive efforts improved following New England’s initial outburst, their attack only became more desperate in the second half. Although they had become clinical in executing their own lineouts, DC gave away three in this game due to ill timing and overthrows. When they would manage a line break, the carrier tended to send a blind offload backward rather than waiting for a ruck to form. Thus, their attacking forays stalled out around midfield. DC’s struggles with box kicks also continued. Their chasers were consistently slow to react or hesitant altogether. This gave minimal territory relief while setting New England up for a counterattack.
In the 64th minute, the Free Jacks put the nail in Old Glory’s coffin. DC fullback Kurt Baker fumbled an offload which New England scrumhalf John Poland recovered. He sent a pass wide to Ben Lasage, who sent a bouncing kick straight for the try zone. Free Jacks winger Taniela Filimone split the DC defense and fell on the ball to finish the score, and the conversion made it 25-0. DC would get a small consolation in the final ten minutes, scoring via some creative kicking following an attacking lineout. Flyhalf Joaquin “Tito” Diaz Bonilla received a pass from ten meters out and chipped the ball over for Thretton Palamo to make a simple catch for the try. This was DC’s last gasp, and their season concluded with the 25-7 defeat.
Despite the turmoil the team has experienced this season, Old Glory have a bright future ahead of them. Head coach Josh Syms departs for a job in Italy, and the futures of Palamo and Baker are uncertain, but a large portion of the core should return next year. Loose forward Collin Grosse will be in contention for Rookie of the Year honors, while fellow U.S. Eagles Cory Daniel and Mike Dabulas will be returning from injury. The strong Argentine contingent of Bonilla, flanker Lautaro Bavaro, and center Fermin Martinez among others should help DC form a unique and solid identity in the coming years. While this is not the way anyone wanted the season to end, the team should hold their heads high as they look to continue their march toward glory in Major League Rugby.