
Defending champion New England rallies to beat Chicago Hounds, reach MLR final
QUINCY — Chris Hilsenbeck missed a chance to win it for the Chicago Hounds, failing to convert a penalty kick with the clock in the red, and the defending New England Free Jacks rallied for a 21-20 comeback win Saturday to move within one victory of a Major League Rugby championship three-peat.
The MLR Eastern Conference final featured 12 Canadians.
The Free Jacks, who rallied from a 17-0 deficit with 21 points in the second half, will face either the Houston SaberCats or the Utah Warriors in the June 28 final in Pawtucket, R.I., at Centreville Bank Stadium, the 10,500-seat home of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Rhode Island FC.
Utah hosted Houston in the Western Conference final later Saturday.