June 10, 2016
PRO Rugby Preview: Ohio Aviators vs. San Diego Breakers
Doug Coil
The San Diego Breakers travel to Ohio this Sunday to battle the Ohio Aviators at 3pm ET. San Diego enters this match in second place with a 4-2 record and 21 points, while Ohio has a 3-3 record and 17 points.
Both of San Diego’s losses have been narrow ones to the League leading Denver Stampede, including last week’s 24-23 loss. Ohio meanwhile, lost a heart beaker in the closing minutes to the Breakers 24-20 in San Diego during week 5, and two weeks ago were flat against the San Francisco Rush, losing 35-20. They hope to ignite their potent offense this Sunday at home.
This match will be the first under the International Test window. Canada is playing Japan and both teams will have players missing. Jake Ilnicki and Kyle Baillie are starting for Canada and will not be available for the Breakers and Aviators, respectively. Hubert Buydens, another San Diego Breaker, was in Canada’s Camp, but is not on the squad playing Japan.
The USA Eagles camp is being held June 5-17, prior to the Eagles playing Italy on June 18 and Russia on June 25. The Breakers are also missing Joe Taufete’e, Taku Ngwenya and Mikey Te’o who are part of the 34 player Eagles roster. The Aviators will miss Angus MacLellan but Shaun Davies who is also part of the squad is listed as a reserve for Sunday’s match.
The San Diego Breakers have made nine changes in their starting squad from last week. The only forwards that started last week are Tai Tuisamoa and Sione Tuhalamaka. In the backs, Charlie Purdon, Kurt Morath, Tim Stanfill and Andrew Suniula retain their starting positions.
The Ohio Aviators have made 6 changes and three position changes to their starting fifteen from two weeks ago. The forwards include Demecus Beach, Ryan McTiernan and Riiekert Hattingh, while Sebastián Kalm switches from 8-man to Flanker. In the backs, Taylor Howden, Alex Elkins and Dominic Waldouck are starters with Robbie Shaw switching from Fly-Half to Scrum-half and Mattt Hughston switching from Flanker to Inside Center.
San Diego enters this match with an offense that leads the League in points scored with 190, 86 of them coming from the League’s top point scorer, Kurt Morath. San Diego leads the League in tries with 27. Sebastián Kalm leads the League with 6 tries. The Aviators points leaders occupy 5 through 8th place in League scoring. Shaun Davies and Sebastián Kalm have scored 30 points and Aaron “Spike Davis has 25. J.P. Eloff has 20 points, but is injured and out for the season.
The match in Ohio will be an exciting one and should not be missed. For tickets: http://bit.ly/1sa5qLd The match will also be streamed on prorugby.org
Ohio Squad: 1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Demecus Beach 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Ryan McTiernan 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Sebastián Kalm 8 Riekert Hattingh 9 Robbie Shaw 10 Taylor Howden 11 Alex Elkins 12 Matt Hughston 13 Dominic Waldouck 14 Aaron “Spike” Davis 15 Alan Hanson 16 Dominic Pezzutti 17 Peter Malcolm 18 Zack Stryffeler 19 Shaun Davies 20 Chris Kinkel 21 Derrek Van Klein 22 Ryan Cochran 23 Ahmad Harajly Coaches: Head Coach-Paule Barford Assistant Coaches: Paul Holmes, Eamonn Hogan Manager: Tom Rooney
San Diego Squad: 1 Mason Peterson 2 Mikey Sosene-Feagai 3 Epi Kalamani 4 Nikola Bursic 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Chris Tuori 7 Cecil Garber 8 Sione Tuihalamaka 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kurt Morath 11 Tim Stanfill 12Andrew Suniula 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Pono Haitsuka 15 Kalei Konrad 16 Kakalia Pule 17 Brice Schilling 18 Ian Carpenter 19 David Dolinar 20 Bruce Thomas 21 Zach Pangelinan 22 Arnold Merideth 23 Ben Leatigaga Coaches: Head Coach – Ray Egan Assistant Coaches: Matt Hawkins, Rob Hoadley Manager: Sean Lindersmith
