Arrows down league-leading Free Jacks to keep MLR playoff hopes alive

TORONTO — The Toronto Arrows scored 28 unanswered points to keep their playoff hopes alive with a 33-18 win over league-leading New England on Thursday, snapping the Free Jacks' 10-game win streak in Major League Rugby play.

Andrew Quattrin, Guiseppe du Toit, Gaston Mieres and Matt Hood scored tries for Toronto, which erased an early 11-0 deficit to lead 16-11 at the break. Sam Malcolm booted a conversion and three penalties. The Arrows also got an automatic conversion for scoring under the posts.

Mills Sanerivi and Christopher Newcomer scored tries for New England. John Poland kicked two penalties and Mitchell Wilson added a conversion.

The Free Jacks paid for some ill-discipline, conceding a string of penalties and shooting themselves in the foot with some handling errors. Toronto, meanwhile, played with plenty of purpose after going down early, knowing a loss would all but end their post-season aspirations.

New England rallied as the second half wore on, scoring a 63rd-minute try to cut the lead to 10 points. But the Toronto defence held and Hood added an insurance bonus-point fourth Arrows try, flying through the air to touch down in the corner with seven minutes remaining.

"The boys knew it was all on the line and the way they defended, the way they came off the line, it was a really pleasing performance to watch," said Arrows coach Peter Smith. "The players were outstanding today, all 23 of them.

"It was a tough scalp. New England's the No. 1 team in the competition but we showed we can match it with anyone on our day."

The Free Jacks' lone previous loss came Feb. 27 when it was beaten 19-15 on the road by the defending champion Los Angeles Giltinis.

The No. 1 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference get a