With the pitch flooded in the Chicago sun, the crowd that have come to watch this Conference Semi Final look to have a great setting to watch Rugby.
Wall P. (36'), Abel C. (50'), Peculo I. (69')
Tries
Rizzo J. (39')
Hilsenbeck C. (37', 51', 70')
Conversions
Emery J. (40')
Hilsenbeck C. (29', 60')
Penalties
Emery J. (8', 20', 32')
With the pitch flooded in the Chicago sun, the crowd that have come to watch this Conference Semi Final look to have a great setting to watch Rugby.
The first few minutes were all Old Glory DC, they had Chicago in full defence mode. Old Glory forced a penalty in the 3rd minute and rather than kicking for posts they went to the corner. A full 8 man line out go for the catch and drive, but the ball is forward when Buckley tries to exit at the back of the maul. Chicago now have a scrum on their 5 metre line to clear the danger.
Chicago don’t get the ball away far enough and invite Old Glory to come back at them. In their exubberance to win back the ball, they get pinged at the breakdown. Easy kick opportunity for Jason Emery to put the first on the board, 0 - 3 after 8 minutes.
Chicago continue gifting DC easy territory and the discipline is not in their favour at teh minute. DC keep moving forward and testing the defensive line. As the clock ticks towards the 20 minute mark, it is all Old glory still but the Chicago defence is starting strong. Until a no arms tackle catches them out and Emery slots the penalty kick. 0 - 6 on the 20th minute to Old Glory.
Old Glory continue to be on top for the next few minutes but the errors are creeping in, an offside and knock on give Chicago chance to keep DC in their half for the first sustained period of the game.
The penalty count kept creeping up and it ended up with a penalty kick close to the DC 22 on 29th minute. Easy kick for Hilsenbeck to get points on the board for Chicago. 3 - 6 after 29 minutes.
Old Glory aren’t stopping though, they manage to force an error at the restart and Emery has the opportunity to add another 3 in the 32nd minute close to the 22. 3 - 9 to DC now.
DC manage to defend their half with a dominant scrum near their 22 in the 34th minute, they obliterate the Hounds that time! DC clear towards the Chicago 22, lineout is executed perfect. They then go coast to coast on the attack, with a couple of poor territory clearance kicks from both sides. DC are back on attack at halfway on the far side. They work along the line back across the pitch, a stray pass as they try to force it on the nearside touch line. Interception by Swiel then offloads to Wall, who manages to accelerate away and run the length of the pitch to dot down under the sticks. Game changer in a split second. Hilsenbeck easy kick for the conversion to take Chicago ahead for the first time. 10 - 9 after 37 minutes.
Chicago think they have cleared their lines with winning a turnover penalty in the 39th minute, but a poor kick allows Old Glory to return the ball from halfway. They run it straight back down the channel, then when in the Chicago 22 they go trow the hands allowing J Rizzo to dive into the corner on the near side. Its a tight angle on the kick from the touchline but Emery slots its down the middle. Old Glory are back in front at half time, 10 - 16.
The second half starts with both team shaving spells in each others halves but keep gifting the ball back after mistakes or penalties at the key times. Old Glory again on top at the scrum by end up wheeling the scrum giving Chicago a chance to clear back into the DC half. Chicago keep the pressure moving forwards with the penalties and get multiple lineouts on the 5 metre line for penalties. 50 minutes on the clock and the forwards are going through the pick and goes after the last lineout maul doesn’t move forward. Abel finds himself infront of the posts, he cleverly dives on the base of the post to score the try to take Chicago ahead again. Hilsenbeck just needs to nudge over from close range. Chicago lead 17 - 16 now in the 51st minute, is the tide turning now. Chicago are getting a bit more fluid in this half.
Chicago are in the ascendancy and the ref keeps his cards in his pocket even with the DC penalty count creeping up. Chicago are camped on the DC line but DC manage to stand strong and win the ball back as held up. The clearance is good but as the return run comes back, the attempt to win the turnover gives Chicago a easy penalty kick near the 22. Hilsenbeck adds the 3 and its mow 20 - 16 after 60 minutes. DC are struggling to get that dominant foothold they had in the first half.
DC have a spell of banging on the door in the Chicago half, winning a penalty near the 22 in the 61st minute. They opt to go for the corner again, the line out is good but Chicago aren’t letting them through. Play has to restart with a scrum on the 5 metre line in the middle due to a injury. DC get the ball out, smashing multiple phases but end up giving the ball back to Chicago a couple of metres from the line for an illegal clear out. 65 minutes and Chichago get the ball back towards halfway.
A couple of minutes later, its time for Chicago to try and force the issue at the other end and DC win the turnover a couple of metres out from the try line. A few changes come on to freshen up the players on the pitch for the last 12 minutes or so.
DC don’t do a great job of clearing their lines from that turnover, Chicago get to come straight back at them. The forwards are camped within the 5 metre line and creeping forwards. Peculo then manages to force himself over the line and extend himself to flop down for the try. Hilsenbeck continues his kicking form tonight with the conversion. 27 - 16 with 10 minutes to go.
The next 10 minutes continued to ebb and flow with mistakes and penalties on both sides. The ref finally had enough of the DC penalty count with Gattas getting pinged at a maul. DC down to 14 with 2 minuted to go and need 12 points to win.
The clock ticked down and Chicago managed to kick the ball into touch. They reach the Conference final at teh weekend!
