The Chicago Hounds showed grit, power, and patience in a rain-soaked clash at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday, rallying from behind to defeat the Miami Sharks 14-7 and improve to 8-3 on the season. With tries from hooker Dylan Fawsitt and forward Luke White, and a pair of conversions by fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck, the Hounds kept their playoff hopes alive and well with just a few weeks remaining in the regular season.
The win, coming under difficult weather conditions, was emblematic of Chicago’s resilience. Wind and rain plagued both teams throughout the match, making handling and clean phases of play difficult. As a result, the first 30 minutes saw a scoreless stalemate despite several line breaks and attacking opportunities on both ends.
The breakthrough came just before halftime, when Chicago was penalized twice in quick succession. The Sharks capitalized, driving over the line in the 39th minute through hooker Kirby Myhill. Santiago Videla added the extras, giving Miami a 7-0 lead heading into the break.
Chicago’s offense continued to sputter early in the second half—until a substitution turned the tide. In the 48th minute, reserve loosehead prop Zurabi Zhvania entered the fray and immediately bolstered the Hounds’ scrum. By the 53rd minute, the Hounds had won a penalty deep in Miami territory and opted for another scrum after the Sharks were penalized again. The dominant Chicago pack drove their counterparts backward, setting the stage for Luke White to score off the base of the scrum. Hilsenbeck’s successful conversion tied the match at 7-7.
The momentum stayed with the Hounds. Just ten minutes later, in the 63rd, another Sharks penalty set Chicago up deep in enemy territory. A crisp lineout throw from Fawsitt to lock James Scott initiated a powerful maul—nicknamed the “Ugly Bus”—which steamrolled its way into the try zone. Fawsitt dotted it down, notching his sixth try of the season and putting the Hounds ahead for good.
The final quarter of the match saw Miami mount one last push. Several times they edged close to the Chicago line, but the Hounds’ defense held firm, repelling each advance and sealing a crucial Eastern Conference victory.
With the win, Chicago moves to second place in the conference with 38 points—just two behind the New England Free Jacks, whom they face next week in a top-of-the-table showdown. A win on the road in Week 13 could vault the Hounds into first place and strengthen their bid for postseason glory.
Can the Hounds take the top spot from New England next week?
