What everyone wants from a top of the table clash is a hard fought arm wrestle of a match full of tension and competition. What we got yesterday from San Diego and Sacremento, in their top of the table Pro Rugby USA matchup, was a match that WWE commentator Jim Ross would likely refer to as a ‘slobberknocker’. Both teams brought their A game, and showed why they are deservedly in the lead positions as we approach the second half of the season, which set Torrero Stadium in San Diego alight.
Denver, arguably the spiritual home of rugby in the US, came into the match undefeated, but San Diego were never going to sit back and let Denver take this game without a fight. Which is exactly what they did, with a hard fought and contested battle that saw Tongan star Kurt Morath provided his usual excellence off the boot, demonstrating why at least one rugby pundit – Rugby Republic – has given Morath the apt nickname ‘Money’.
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Morath provided the first points of the match before Denver’s Maximo De Achaval crashed over the line putting Denver head late in the first..
Denver also weathered losing Ata Malifa to a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on San Diego’s Taku Ngwenya, which oddly enough was one of my highlights of the match, not for the offence, but for the touching display of mutual respect showed between the players after the event, Malifa expressing an apology to his opposite in an obvious act of brotherhood.
San Diego – and again Kurt ‘Money’ Morath – closed out the half with a third penalty goal to take a narrow lead into the break, but Denver remained relentless in the second, with solid attack and defence.
Will Magie put Denver back in the lead with beautifully placed penalty goal four minutes into the second half, which was answered two minutes later by two more penalties off the boot of Morath.
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San Diego looked to be mounting a credible counter attack before South African Chritian Wiessing brilliantly timed and intercept to snatch the ball from the home team and charge down field for a second try right under the posts.
Not willing to back down, San Diego again through the boot of Morath nudged ahead of the visiting side, before Mikey Te’o returned a kick from way downtown, dancing through Debver’s defence and linking up with Kalei Konrad to see Konrad dotting down in the corner and taking the lead with 20 minutes to go.
However Denver once again showed yet again why they are the top team in this league, with a kick from Will Magie that can only be described as poetry finding Martin Knoetze on the sideline, who evaded one tackle before reaching out for what was the final score of the match, after 80 minutes and some inspirational game play Denver finished up deserved victors with a one point margin, 24-23 over San Diego.
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Make no mistake, while this match saw Denver extend their undefeated streak and maintain a perfect record, San Diego also showed that they are not a team to be discounted. While they have to regroup and prepare to face Ohio at Obetz field next weekend it’s fair to say any team that under estimates this side is going to find themselves in a world of hurt.
The real pain for Ohio of course is once they’ve finished dealing with San Diego next weekend they too hit the road. To face Denver, who will be well rested after the bye next weekend.
The heat is on as the season starts to move towards the business end of proceedings, and I’d suggest this is not the last time we’re going to see these two sides going at it.
For more information about ProRugby USA check out their website here, or their Twitter feed here, and get involved with this developing league.
Kyle Willoughby is a New Zealand based rugby writer, Boston Sports fan and former media manager for the Tongan Rugby Union operating internationally to share rugby news from the USA around the world. Follow Kyle’s Twitter feed for more rugby and sports tweets.
Main Photo Credit: Pro Rugby USA via YouTube
