June 12, 2016
Ohio Aviators Dominant Win Against San Diego Breakers
Doug Coil
The San Diego Breakers traveled to Ohio this Sunday to battle the Ohio Aviatorswith second place on the line. San Diego entered this match in second place with a 4-2 record and 21 points, while Ohio has a 3-3 record and 17 points.
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 are not 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 also will miss Angus MacLellan and Roland Suniula, but Shaun Davies is back from Camp and is a reserve.
The San Diego Breakers 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 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.
Ohio Aviators v San Diego Breakers Recap
Ohio Aviators took the early lead four minutes into the match as Spike Davis retrieved an Ohio kick ahead and offloaded to Dominic Waldouck for his first PRO Rugby try. Robbie Shaw converted and Ohio had a 7-0 lead.
After several phases, Ohio reached inside the San Diego 22. The Breakers are offside and Robbie Shaw’s kick is good to increase the Aviators lead to 10-0.
Ohio took the lineout and after two forward attacks, the Breakers are penalized again. This time Robbie Shaw missed the penalty kick. Ohio then got a turnover inside the Breakers 22 and are pressuring for another score. A knock on killed the momentum and resulted in a San Diego scrum. Prior to the scrum, Andrew Suniula was subbed off with an injury.
San Diego won the scrum and Kurt Morath cleared. San Diego won the lineout and Ryan Matyas broke deep into Aviator territory. An off sides by the Aviators then allowed the Breakers to get on board from a penalty kick by the always deadly Kurt Morath.
On the ensuing restart, Ohio marched down field and Alex Elkins touched down in the corner for a try. Robbie Shaw converted and Ohio increased their lead to 17-3.
At the twenty four minute mark, Jamie Mackintosh supported an Aviator player and was yellow carded for flattening Pono Haitsuka. Soon after, San Diego went on attack and Kalei Konrad touched down for a try in the corner. Kurt Morath converted and the Breakers were within a converted try of tying the match. With thirteen minutes remaining prior to halftime, Ohio led 17-10.
The momentum swung back to Ohio as the Breakers cleared and Hanson caught the ball and swung the ball wide to Alex Elkins who broke down near touch for his second try. Shaw missed a difficult conversion, but the Aviators now led 22-10. Mackintosh then returned from the bin to even the sides again.
The seesaw battle continued as the Breakers won a scrum and grubbed ahead. Ben Leatigaga, who came in for Andrew Suniula earlier, retrieved the kick and went in for a try. Morath converted and the lead was narrowed to 22-17 in favor of Ohio.
With a little over a minute remaining before halftime, the Aviators won a lineout and attacked to within 10 meters of in goal. A scrum to Ohio after the hooter was won and Kalm bulled his way inside 5 meters. Several picks later Ohio swung the ball wide for a Spike Davis try. Shaw’s conversion just missed wide. At halftime Ohio led 27-17 over San Diego.
Ohio Aviator Head Coach, Paule Barford indicated at halftime that the team needed to make an adjustment as the versatile Matt Hughston sustained a broken jaw. San Diego also lost two players in Andrew Suniula and Cecil Garber early in the first half, so it is hoped that they all recover quickly.
Breakers head Coach Ray Egan indicated whoever controls the ball during the second half will win the match. He has confidence in his team’s ability to attack and add points in an otherwise close match. That would not be the case, as Ohio scored the first points of the second half and broke the match open for the win.
Second Half
To begin the second half, Ohio went on the attack and Dominic Waldouck received an offload and went in for his second try of the day. Shaw converted and Ohio now led 34-17.
An infringement by the Aviators, then had Kurt Morath trying to narrow the gap with a penalty kick, but it went wide.
With 24 minutes left, Shaun Davies, who returned from the Eagles camp, substituted for Robbie Shaw.
San Diego attacked deep, but Chris Tuori was held up. San Diego’s Sione Tuihalamake was then held up again. Ohio defended well and will need to defend a third 5 meter scrum. Ohio then got the ball back after an Alex Elkins tackle and poach of the ball and Ohio cleared for some relief.
Ohio gets the ball back again and a Taylor Howden dummy resulted in an easy try for him. Shaun Davies converts and Ohio now had a 41-17 lead over the Breakers.
On the restart, Ohio moved the ball from their try line with outstanding off loads and this resulted in a try by Dominic Waldoulk for a hat trick. Davies converted and Ohio increased their lead to 48-17.
Ohio went over the half century as Spike Davis touched down for a try. Shaun Davies converted and Ohio led 55-17 with three minutes left in the match.
The offense did not end, as San Diego made the most of the last three minutes in the match. San Diego answered back with a Ben Leatigaga try in the corner and Morath converted. Zach Pangelinan then scored again in the corner after the hooter and Morath made the conversion. The two tries in the closing minutes were something positive to take home with them, but was a little to late as Ohio won 55-31 over San Diego.
The Ohio Aviators have enjoyed playing in front of their home crowd and have unleashed their potent offense scoring over fifty points in each of their three home matches. With the bonus point win, the Aviators are now in second place in the League with the Breakers moving to third. Both teams have 22 points and are 5 points behind League leading Denver.
Next week Ohio travel to Denver next Sunday to meet the Stampede in a rematch of opening day overtime loss. A bonus point win for Ohio could gain first place for Ohio if Denver does not earn a point. A win for Denver however, would go a long way to their quest to win the League title.
San Diego also will be playing the rejuvenated San Francisco Rush at home on Saturday. A win would keep them in the mix for the League title.
While both teams missed players due to the Eagles Camp and other International Tests, San Diego appeared to have been the most affected. The teams all need to adjust as PRO Rugby continues every week during this Test window.
PRO Rugby Preview: Ohio Aviators vs. San Diego Breakers
Ohio Aviators: 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 Allan 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 Breakers: 1 Mason Petersen 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 12 Andrew 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
