Ohio overcome scrappy Sacramento

Ohio got their California road trip off to a winning start as they came away 31-11 winners over Sacramento in a scrappy encounter at Bonney Field on Sunday. Ohio had some problems with the heavy Sacramento scrum but never really looked in danger with stronger cohesion and several turnovers at the breakdown proving the difference between the two mid-table sides.

Mirco Bergamasco gave the home side an early lead with two penalty goals inside the opening minutes. Unfortunately for the green and whites, bright spots following were few and far between.

Mason Baum started the account for Ohio, with the bruising winger blasting through the middle to score under the sticks. After a long period of no scoring, fellow wide man Spike Davis crossed from a back row move after Langi Haupeakui had been sent to the bin for a reckless tackle.

Sacramento got their mojo back for a few short minutes from the kickoff. They pinned Ohio deep in their end and Jamie Mackintosh was forced to collapse a maul, which earned him a ticket to sit beside Haupeakui in the naughty bin. Chris Saint crossed from the ensuing attack and left Ohio only a single point up at the break.

There was no sign of parity in the second half. The penalty count crept up for Sacramento and captain John Quill was binned for a silly shoulder charge on Shaun Davies. Filippo Ferrarini made the advantage count, and Sebastián Kalm took a quick tap from a free kick to blast over for a deflating try.

The game lost any hopes of shape in the closing minutes, with handling errors and lazy penalties making phase play wishful thinking. One final moment of grace freed Baum down the left wing for his second after a lovely pass from replacement hooker Dylan Fawsitt.

While neither team will be comfortable with their performance, more worrying will be the physical status of key players for both. Garrett Brewer and John Quill were forced off injured for Sacramento, while Ahmad Harajly and Shaun Davies were casualties for Ohio.

Sacramento play hosts to league-leaders Denver next week, and might need to find some fresh bodies to compete. Meanwhile Ohio heads south to San Diego in a key match for two teams looking to stay with Denver in the title hunt.

SACRAMENTO 11
Tries – C. Saint (39)
Pens – M. Bergamasco 2 (4, 9)
Yellow cards – L. Haupeakui (32), J. Quill (50)

OHIO 31
Tries – M. Baum 2 (12, 75), S. Davis (34), F. Ferrarini (52), S. Kalm (67)
Cons – S. Davies (13), J. Eloff 2 (53, 76)
Yellow cards – J. Mackintosh (37)

SACRAMENTO
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Olive Kilifi 4 Robert Meeson 5 Sione Sina 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 John Quill (capt.) 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Chris Saint 10 Garrett Brewer 11 Joeli Tikoisuva 12 Mirco Bergamasco 13 Nemia Qoro 14 Ryan Koewler 15 Ryan Thompson

16 Kali Tavake 17 Toke Kefu 18 Estephan Tuamasaga 19 Matt Doubek 20 Sione Latu 21 Jope Motokana 22 Pate Takiveikata 23 Fatai Vailala

OHIO
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Peter Malcolm 3 Angus MacLellan 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Matt Hughston 8 Sebastián Kalm 9 Shaun Davies (capt.) 10 JP Eloff 11 Mason Baum 12 Roland Suniula 13 Ahmad Harajly 14 Spike Davis 15 Chris Kunkel

16 Dylan Fawsitt 17 Demecus Beach 18 Ryan McTiernan 19 Dominic Pezzutti 20 Chad Joseph 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Alex Elkins 23 Allan Hanson

Referee: Scott Green
Assistants: Leah Berard & Nick Ricono