Anthem RC vs. Old Glory DC — Week 4 Preview

Two home wins in a row? This team believes that will happen.

Written by Dan Brooks

Statement Made

Something is shifting at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Last Sunday’s 34-25 victory over the Seattle Seawolves, the club’s first-ever home win, wasn’t just a result. It was a statement. Four tries, 14 points from the boot of Luke Carty, and the kind of sustained second-half intensity that has been building week by week under Coach Cuca. Julian Roberts crossed for what was officially the 100th try in Anthem RC history, Will Sherman got over from the pack, and Malacchi Esdale, outstanding in his starting role, added another. The crowd felt it. The players felt it. And by denying the visitors the consolation of a losing point, the idea that Charlotte might one day become a rugby fortress felt possible.

Now the job is to make it a habit.

A huge part of what’s changed this season is the culture being built inside the squad, and nobody embodies that more than Luke Carty. The flyhalf reached out to Coach Cuca and GM Mark Carney himself in the offseason because he wanted to be part of this project, and the impact has gone well beyond his 14-point haul against Seattle. On the field, Carty’s composure has given the backline a calm it hasn’t had before. Off it, he’s become one of the squad’s natural leaders, a positive presence around the group who goes out of his way to help teammates. Coach Cuca has been clear about what Carty means to this team: he’s doing more than anyone expected, and the coaching staff believe they can continue to develop him into a genuine contender for an Eagles jersey.

The rookies have played their part too. Will Sherman and Campbell Robb arrived in preseason in superb shape, both finishing in the top five on the Bronco fitness test. That earned the respect of the more senior players immediately. Julian Roberts, still young in his league career after two seasons at NOLA, has emerged as what Mark Carney calls a Swiss army knife of backs, a player whose ball-playing ability and versatility allow him to slot in anywhere across the backline. And this Saturday brings another milestone: loosehead prop Elias Garza will make his MLR debut off the bench. Originally a first-round draft pick by Chicago before being loaned to Anthem for the season, Garza has impressed in preseason and with the U23s, and Coach Cuca is excited to give him his first taste of league rugby.

Know The Opponent

Old Glory DC arrive in Charlotte with a 1-1 record and a point to prove. They opened with a 33-16 loss to Seattle, the same Seattle side Anthem just beat, but responded with a gritty 21-19 comeback win over defending champions New England, a result that showed real character. Flanker Cory Daniel was named MLR Player of the Week for that performance, and it would be a mistake to treat DC as anything other than a serious threat.

Coach Cuca sees a team built on defensive structure and set piece. Old Glory’s scrum is among the best in the league through three rounds, their maul is a constant threat, and their back row, Aidan King, Bonasso, and Daniel, have the kind of relentless work rate that slows the ball and suffocates opposition attacks. At 10 and 12, Jason Robertson and Emery are experienced playmakers who know exactly what to do when that pressure creates opportunities. Anthem’s discipline and defensive connection will need to be sharp for the full eighty.

Preparation & Storylines

The good news is that Coach Cuca and his staff have been preparing for exactly this kind of arm-wrestle. In the offseason, the coaching group invested heavily in scramble defense and unstructured scenarios, training the players to react to breaks, recover shape, and deny tries even when the structure is broken. It paid off in Week 1, where Anthem saved several likely scores through scramble work alone. Against a DC side that will look to squeeze territory and then strike through their playmakers, that defensive resilience could be the difference.

The head-to-head history offers extra motivation. Old Glory have won all three previous meetings, including a 26-22 result last March that was agonizingly close to being Anthem’s first. With the confidence of a home win in the legs and a crowd that is growing louder every week, Saturday is the day to change the story.It’s Kids Kickoff at American Legion Memorial Stadium this week, with hundreds of young players from the TRY Rugby grassroots program expected in the stands. And to celebrate last weekend’s historic first home victory, the first 500 fans through the gates will receive a voucher for one free 12 oz Spratt’s, courtesy of Town Brewing. Gates open at 3:00 PM. Bring the family, rally the crew, and let’s make this the loudest Saturday afternoon Charlotte has ever seen.

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