May 29, 2016
PRO Rugby San Francisco Gains First Win Over Ohio
Photo: PRO Rugby
Doug Coil
San Francisco welcomed former All Black Mils Muliaina to the team as they won their first match of the season 35-20 against Ohio. Volney Rouse was the Man-of-the-Match. Last week they had a strong performance against league leading Denver in a narrow loss and this week they thwarted a potent Ohio attack in gaining the win. In fairness, Ohio also were their own worst enemy with numerous penalties that stymied their attacks and resulted in San Francisco points.
San Francisco had an early opportunity to score the first points, but elected to kick to touch after a penalty by Ohio. The ball was stolen by Ohio and cleared.
Ohio took the early lead 5-0 about thirteen minutes into the match after a Sebastian Kalm try. San Francisco repelled attack after attack in the red zone for almost ten minutes, prior to scoring the try.
San Francisco answered back with Mils Mulianina’s first try as a PRO Rugby player. He already had many for New Zealand. Volney Rouse slotted the conversion and San Francisco claimed the lead 7-5.
On an Ohio attack by Sebastian Kalm to within 15 meters, San Francisco was penalized for hands in and Shaun Davies reclaimed the lead with a penalty kick, as Ohio led 8-7.
San Francisco then took the lead on the strength of a David Tameilau try and a Rouse conversion. San Francisco then took advantage of a yellow card to Shaun Davies with a Jay Finau try. Rouse converted and the lead increased to 21-8.
Ohio had the last opportunity to score prior to halftime, but a knock on thwarted their attack.
The second half could have either opened the match up for San Francisco with an early score or had Ohio right back into the match if they could control their numerous penalties.
San Francisco increased their lead early in the second half with a Rouse penalty kick. They now led 24-8. Ohio answered right back as Matt Houghston drove within meters of in goal and Filippo Ferrarini drove in for a try. Robbie Shaw converted to narrow the lead to 24-15.
San Francisco’s Volney Rouse kicked two penalty kicks to increase their lead to 30-15. They then added a long try by Pila Longi from an offload by Martini Tulapusi. The wind made the kick difficult from the left side and was missed. San Francisco still had a 35-15 lead.
Ohio executed a picture perfect try after kicking a penalty into touch and taking a lineout formed into a maul in for a try by Dylan Fawsitt. The kick was missed by Shaw and the score was 35-20.
Time was not on Ohio’s side as San Francisco closed out the match with a 35-20 win, their first victory of the season.
San Francisco Squad: 1. Niko Lolohea 2 Patrick Latu (captain) 3 Fancy Namulau’ulu 4 Brendan Daly 5 David Tameilau 6 Sam Finau 7 Isaac Helu 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Michael Reid 10 Volney Rouse 11 Pila Longi 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Mils Muliaina 14 Michael Haley 15 Martini Talapusi 16 Codi Jones 17 Maka Tameilau 18 Jay Finau 19 Siupeli Sakalia 20 CC Mahoni 21 Junior Helu 22 Nick Blevins 23 Pila Huihui Coaches: Head Coach – Paul Keeler Assistant Coaches: Adriaan Ferris, Simon Fathers
Ohio Squad: 1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Angus MacLellan 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Matt Hughston 8 Sebastián Kalm 9 Shaun Davies 10 Robbie Shaw 11 Ahmad Harajly 12 Roland Suniula 13 Ryan Cochran 14 Aaron “Spike” Davis 15 Alan Hanson 16 Peter Malcolm 17 Ryan McTiernan 18 Chad Joseph 19 Alex Elkins 20 Chris Kinkel 21 Shawn Riley 22 Sam McGuffie 23 Demecus Beach Coaches: Head Coach-Paule Barford Assistant Coaches: Paul Holmes, Eamonn Hogan Manager: Tom Rooney
