By: Ellie Wileman
Bridgeview, Ill. – Old Glory entered the playoffs as the underdog against a Chicago Hounds side that had gone undefeated through the regular season. Despite a determined effort and a strong second-half response, Old Glory fell 59-22 Monday night, ending its 2026 campaign one step short of the Major League Rugby Championship match.
Chicago struck first after Old Glory opened the scoring through a penalty kick from Jason Emery. The Hounds quickly responded, levelling the match before capitalizing on sustained pressure to score two converted tries and build a 17-3 advantage midway through the opening half.
Old Glory’s defense, which ranked among the league’s best throughout the regular season, produced several key stops to keep Chicago from adding to its lead. An interception inside the Old Glory defensive zone prevented another scoring opportunity, while strong work in the lineouts and breakdown helped Old Glory regain possession at critical moments. However, Chicago’s attack continued to find openings. The Hounds crossed for two more converted tries before halftime, taking a 31-3 lead into the break.
Old Glory came out with renewed energy in the second half and immediately began applying pressure deep inside Chicago territory. Several extended attacking sequences punned the Hounds near their own try line, but Old Glory was unable to convert multiple promising opportunities into points. One of Old Glory’s best chances came when Cory Daniel broke free downfield and appeared destined for the try line before a last-second defensive play from Chicago dislodged the ball just short of the score.
Chicago weathered the pressure and extended its lead with a converted try in the 53rd minute. Shortly afterward, Old Glory finally found its breakthrough. Following a series of powerful carries near the goal line, hooker Kirby Myhill forced his way over for Old Glory’s first try of the evening. Emery added the conversion to cut the deficit to 38-10.
The Hounds answered with three additional converted tries as their high-powered offense continued to capitalize on scoring opportunities and stretch the lead.
Despite the scoreboard, Old Glory continued to battle until the final whistle. In the 76th minute, Old Glory was rewarded when a try in the right corner survived a video review. Schumacher converted from a difficult angle to make it 59-17. Just minutes later, Robinson powered over from close range following a scrum near the try line for Old Glory’s final score of the season.
Chicago closed out the match and secured a place in Sunday’s MLR Championship Final against California Legion.
While the result ends Old Glory’s postseason run, the club’s players continued to fight until the final whistle, reflecting the resilience that defined their season. After earning a playoff berth, Old Glory closes the 2026 campaign with plenty of momentum and a foundation to build on heading into next year.