Denver unbeaten, Ohio thump Sacramento

Editor

Denver remain unbeaten after they outclassed San Francisco while Ohio put 50 points past Sacramento in the USA PRO League in the USA PRO League.

Sacramento head south to face the potent San Diego backline next week, while Ohio take the long journey back to California to take on the winless San Francisco at Boxer Stadium.

Denver will enjoy another bye next weekend, while San Francisco host Ohio on Sunday.


Ohio 50-17 Sacramento
Memorial Park, Obetz 

Ohio outscored Sacramento by eight tries to two to record an emphatic 50-17 win at Memorial Park on Sunday. 

Tries for the home side came via a brace apiece from Matt Hughston and Spike Davis while Filippo Ferrarini, Dylan Fawsitt, Sebastián Kalm and Jamie Mackintosh also got over for their five pointers.

The win puts Ohio back on the winning track with their sights firmly set on the undefeated leaders Denver.

Mirco Bergamasco slotted a penalty that gave Sacramento an early lead, but the five first half tries that followed this, handed Ohio a comfortable 33-3 lead as the players headed into the tunnel.  

The home side's back row proved to be too strong, scoring half of the tries between them, including the Hughston brace, they overpowered their opponents at the breakdown.

Tries from Nemia Qoro and Kyle Sumsion in the 46th and 65th minute respectively, came a little too late for the visitors as the match was put beyond reach by a sterling first-half performance from Ohio.

The Scorers: 

For Ohio:
Tries: Hughston 2, Davis 2, Ferrarini, Fawsitt, Kalm, Mackintosh
Cons: Davies 5
Yellow card: Suniula

For Sacramento:
Tries: Qoro, Sumsion
Cons: Bergamasco 2
Pen: Bergamasco 
Yellow cards: Falcon, Motokana

Ohio: 15 Allan Hanson, 14 Spike Davis, 13 Ryan Cochran, 12 Roland Suniula, 11 Mason Baum, 10 Robbie Shaw, 9 Shaun Davies, 8 Sebastián Kalm, 7 Matt Hughston, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Dominic Pezzutti, 4 Pierce Dargan, 3 Angus MacLellen, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 1 Jamie Mackintosh
Replacements: 16 Derrek van Klein,17 Demecus Beach, 18 Chad Joseph, 19 Alex Elkins, 20 Ahmad Harajly, 21 Shawn Riley, 22 Chris Kunkel, 23 Chris Schade

Sacramento: 15 Garrett Brewer, 14 Ryan Thompson, 13 Mirco Bergamasco (c), 12 Nemia Qoro, 11 Joeli Tikoisuva, 10 Pate Takiveikata, 9 Chris Saint, 8 Sione Latu, 7 Kyle Sumsion, 6 Robert Meeson, 5 Sione Sina, 4 Matt Doubek, 3 Olive Kilifi, 2 Ray Barkwill, 1 Valdemar Lee-Lo
Replacements: 16 Cameron Falcon, 17 Toke Kefu, 18 Kali Tavake, 19 Rich Knight, 20 Estephan Tuamasaga, 21 Shane Moore, 22 Jope Motokana, 23 Ryan Koewler,

Referee: Kurt Weaver


Denver 41-37 San Francisco
Infinity Park, Denver

Two tries from outside centre Chad London helped Denver outclass San Francisco 41-37 in the PRO League in Denver on Sunday.

Denver outscored their opponents with six tries to four in this close encounter, tries for the home side came courtesy of a brace from Chad London while a try apiece was recorded for Zach Fenoglio, Luke White, Casey Rock and Christian Wiessing.

Pila Iongi, Orene Ai’i, David Tameilau and Maka Tameilau all crossed the whitewash for the visitors.

Had it not been for the accurate kicking of captain Volney Rouse, who scored 17 points off the tee, the margin of victory for Denver might have been bigger.

This win means the home side keep their unbeaten record intact, an impressive five from five, despite a valiant effort from San Francisco, who have not won a single match yet.

Chad London ripped through the line to score his second try and push Denver out to an 11 point lead, but a late try by Maka Tameilau made things interesting and kept tensions high through to the final whistle. 

A slender 24-20 lead at the break set the stage for an interesting second 40, as both sides could not get the better of either in the opening half. 

Denver were however overpowering in the contact and made sure their exciting backline got good quality ball.

A raft of penalties on both sides of the ball saw first Timana Tahu and then debutant Bill Fukofuka sent to the bin, and the opportunities opened. 

The Scorers:

For Denver:
Tries: London 2, Fenoglio, White, Rock, Wiessing
Cons: Magie 4
Pens: Magie
Yellow card: Tahu

For San Francisco:
Tries: Iongi, Ai’i, D Tameilau, M Tameilau
Cons: Rouse 4
Pens: Rouse 3
Yellow cards: Fukofuka

Denver: 15 Maximo de Achaval, 14 Mike Garrity, 13 Chad London, 12 Ata Malifa, 11 Timana Tahu, 10 Will Magie, 9 Niku Kruger, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (c), 7 Hanco Germishuys, 6 Logan Collins, 5 Brodie Orth, 4 Casey Rock, 3 Ben Tarr, 2 Nick Wallace, 1 Luke White
Replacements: 16 Zach Fenoglio, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Christian Wiessing, 20 Peter Dahl, 21 Mose Timoteo, 22 Martin Knoetze, 23 Dustin Croy

San Francisco: 15 Martini Talapusi, 14 Michael Haley, 13 Nick Blevins, 12 Orene Ai’i, 11 Pila Iongi, 10 Volney Rouse (c), 9 Michael Reid, 8 Bill Fukofuka, 7 Sam Finau, 6 Siupeli Sakalia, 5 David Tameilau, 4 Brendan Daly, 3 Fancy Namulau’ulu, 2 Jacob Finau, 1 Niko Lolohea
Replacements: 16 Codi Jones, 17 Maka Tameilau, 18 Patrick Latu, 19 Isaac Helu, 20 Jack O’Hara, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Junior Helu, 23 Jake Anderson

Referee: Nick Ricono

By Lyndon Julius