Hounds Make Statement in Win over NOLA

News Apr-6-2024

Hounds Make Statement in Win over NOLA

NEW ORLEANS, LA- The Chicago Hounds’ 33-point second-half propelled them to victory on Saturday afternoon down in New Orleans. Led by two-try performances from hooker Dylan Fawsitt and lock James Scott, the Hounds moved to 2-3-1 with a resounding 38-21 victory over the NOLA Gold.

It was a slow start for Chicago, playing their fourth road game of the campaign. They were testing the Gold defense early on in the game, and had possession deep in Gold’s territory a couple of times. The Hounds couldn’t capitalize on the territory advantage early on and the Gold got on the board first. Hooker Augusto Bohme dotted it down for the home side in the 13th minute, and the successful conversion kick made it 7-0 Gold.

Chicago responded after the first half water break. Camping around the NOLA 22-meter-line, captain Billy Meakes received a pass before getting the ball into the hands of James Scott. The towering, English lock found a gap and raced in for his first career MLR try. The kick was wide, leaving NOLA with a narrow 2-point lead.

On the stroke of halftime, the Gold responded through the powerful wing Ed Fidow. Fullback Dougie Fife got things started with a pass sent out to Fidow. The world-cup veteran did well to turn the corner and beat a Meakes’ tackle attempt, before throwing a dummy and escaping a second tackle attempt, this one from center Mark O’Keeffe. Fidow raced down the sideline and threw an offload inside to a NOLA teammate. After a few more offloads, the ball was back in Fidow’s hand, and he was into the corner for NOLA’s second score of the day. The kick was good and Chicago went into the sheds down 14-5.

The second half was basically all Chicago. The Hounds got on the board almost immediately after halftime via Ignacio Peculo. Adriaan Carelse’s kick was successful and the lead was back down to two points. NOLA responded within 90 seconds via scrumhalf Luke Campbell. The kick was good, extending the lead to two-scores once again. The Gold didn’t score a point the rest of the afternoon, however.

Dylan Fawsitt scored his first try of the season in the 52nd minute off of the back of a maul. With Carelse’s successful conversion kick, it was now 21-19. Minutes later, Chicago won another penalty. Rinse and repeat: kick down to the corner, get the maul working, and get Fawsitt over for another score. Carelse hit the afters-attempt once more and all of a sudden, Chicago had a five-point lead over the home side.

It was another maul try for the Hounds less than 10 minutes later. South African hooker Janus Venter replaced Fawsitt at this point and the debutant was the beneficiary of the maul’s dominance this time around, adding the fifth Chicago try of the afternoon. Carelse’s kick was good yet again, extending the lead to 12 points, 33-21.

The Hounds added one more try before it was all said and done. Lock James Scott scored his second try of the day in the dying moments of the game- once again via a Chicago maul. It wasn’t as traditional of a score as the previous maul displays, but five points is five points. The kick was no good and that is how Week 6 would end.