MLR Quarter-Finals This Weekend: 23 Canadians Playing – New England, Chicago, Utah and Houston Into Semi-Finals
There are 23 Canadian players taking part in the MLR quarter-finals, 4 of the players aren’t on the Canada extended list Guiseppe du Toit, Reegan O’Gorman, Seth Purdey, Josh Larsen with Ethan Fryer listed as Injury Pending.
Chicago were the first to the semi-finals with a win over Old Glory. Seattle fell to Utah late Saturday evening with the other quarter-finals on Sunday. New England won their match on Sunday and will meet Chicago in the East final. The Houston v LA game was postponed until Monday evening, Houston won the match and will face Utah in the West final.
Chicago 27 vs Old Glory 16
(5 Canadians)
Chicago has Mason Flesch at blindside flanker and Lucas Rumball at #8, this could quite likely be the selection for Canada in their internationals this summer. Jason Higgins starts at scrum half, another likely Canada selection. Matt Oworu is in the reserves but no sign of Noah Flesch in the reserves. Old Glory has Cali Martinez at tighthead, a probable Canada selection this summer, no sign of Logan Weidner in the match 23. Matt Oworu subbed in at 59′. Cali Martinez subbed out at 59′. Jason Higgins subbed off at 67′. Lucas Rumball subbed off at 70′.
Utah 23 v Seattle 21
(6 Canadians)
Utah have Spencer Jones at #12 and Nic Benn at #14, Emerson Prior is reserve prop and Reid Davis reserve second row. All pushing for match 23 selection in the Canada roster this summer. Seattle have the Canada hookers Dewald Kotze starting and Jesse Mackail at backup, there’s no room for scrum half Brock Gallagher in the match 23. Reid Davis subbed on at 41′ and off at 53′ and back on at 70′. Jesse Mackail replaced Dewald Kotze at 67′. Spencer Jones picked up a yellow at 70′. Emerson Prior subbed on at 70′.
Houston 27 v LA 21
(3 Canadians)
Houston don’t have any Canadian players. Andrew Coe the only Canadian starter for LA on the wing, no sign of openside Matt Heaton in the match 23. In the reserves is Reegan O’Gorman at second row backup and Seth Purdey as wing replacement. Reegan O’Gorman subbed in at 64′. Seth Purdey subbed in at 67′.
New England 32 v Miami 10
(9 Canadians)
New England have four Canadians in the starting roster, Andrew Quattrin hooker, Piers von Dadelszen at second row, Ben Lesage at outside centre and Brock Webster at fullback. Cam Nordli-Kelemeti is Canada eligible but looks like he’s waiting for an England or Fiji call up. In the reserves are Foster Dewitt backup hooker, Josh Larsen backup second row, Ethan Fryer backup loose forward. Rugby Canada listed Fryer as Injury Pending on their long list, he looks healthy enough to be in the MLR reserves. Josiah Morra who was lent to Miami for part of the season wasn’t selected against his former teammates. Miami have Shane O’Leary at fullback and Guiseppe du Toit as a reserve backline player. Shane O’Leary kicked a penalty goal at 9′ and a conversion at 58′. Andrew Quattrin scored a try at 29′. Piers von Dadelszen picked up a yellow card at 56′. Guiseppe du Toit subbed on at 59′. Josh Larsen subbed on at 66′. Ethan Fryer subbed on at 66′. Brock Webster subbed off at 70′. Foster Dewitt replaced Andrew Quattrin at 70′. Brock Webster made the most metres in the game with 52, he was also top of the defenders beaten category with 4 and clean breaks with 2.
