MIT overcome Fredom to keep playoff hopes alive

Teams:MIT vs Freedom
Played:11/03/2018 @ MIT
Score: 48 - 12 MIT win

On November 3rd 2018, MIT took on Freedom on a blustery Briggs Field, needing a win to keep their playoff ambitions alive. Playing into a howling wind in the first half, MIT knew they would have to give it everything to stop Freedom advancing in the Corridor of Powerâ„¢. Excellent ball carrying from Andrew and Michael up front opened up the Freedom defence, and the MIT backs spun the ball to Garcia in the centre, who made quite a splash in scoring under the posts.
Despite dominating possession, MIT committed a few too many sloppy penalties at the breakdown, and Freedom took advantage of the wind to advance into MIT territory, scoring a try in the corner off an attacking lineout to bring the game level.
Methodical attacking play from the forward pods saw MIT put together an impressive number of phases in Freedom territory, with John G slithering through the wet grass from close range to get MIT's second of the day. Michael added his second try in two weeks, bouncing off the first defender on a pick and go, and diving for the line.
With Alex A sidelined by an errant boot at the ruck, Frank moved to 8. A subsequent midfield scrum saw the ball squirt out the back where James collected and passed to Erik on the blindside, who beat his defender on the outside and sprinted 40m to score, to kicker John G's relief, directly underneath the posts.
Freedom, though, was not to be oppressed easily, and another series of breakdown penalties led to a score in the corner right before the half. With the half time score a little too close for comfort at 22-12, Coach Evan implored MIT to increase the line speed on defence, and stop conceding penalties. Frank was instructed that he had used all of his kicking credits for the day on Alex A, and to focus on carrying the ball.
Advice noted, Frank and forward companions Andrew and Michael put in a series of punishing carries to drive MIT down into the Freedom 22. With the pressure mounting, MIT began winning penalties, and a quick tap close to the line saw prop Nick A run a lovely flat decoy line for Kenniel who got the ball out the back and crashed over for the score.
With the centre pairing of Ike and a near hypothermic Garcia combining nicely the MIT attack looked potent with ball in hand at times. Super subs Caleb and Brian both scored in the corner, on similarly powerful carries. Frank went close to the line, only to be pantsed by the opposition defender.
In a sequence that will have made Coach Evan happy, the MIT line pressed hard and made a hit deep behind the gain line to dislodge the ball. Caleb showed off some fancy footwork to control the bouncing ball and touch down for his second of the day. In the closing minutes a number of clean line breaks looked sure to produce a try, only for the last pass to fall to ground, an area MIT will surely look to improve on next week.
MIT play their last game of the season against old rival Old Gold at home on Briggs Field at 1.30pm next Saturday, with a place in the playoffs on the line.

(Coldest) Man of the Match: Garcia
Try scorers: Garcia, John G, Michael, Erik, Kenniel, Caleb x2, Brian