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PRO Week 11 kicks off at Memorial Field in Obetz on Sunday as the Aviators play host to the San Francisco Rush in what promises to be a lively match between the two hottest franchises in the league. Ohio are fresh off back-to-back demolition jobs against San Diego and Denver and will be looking to get revenge for their Week 7 loss at Boxer Stadium. San Francisco are also on a two-game winning streak, their first ever, and will be keen to spoil the home team’s party.
The Aviators will field virtually an identical lineup to the one that has played the last two games. The only change sees Allan Hanson starting at fullback, with Zac Mizell moving up to flyhalf in place of Taylor Howden. Mizell has largely been seen as an outside back thus far so it will be interesting to see how he fares. Ryan Cochran takes Hanson’s spot on the bench in the only other change to the match-day squad.
San Francisco meanwhile have made five changes to the team that upset San Diego. Niko Lolohea starts at loosehead in place of Codi Jones, and Nick Grass makes his first appearance since his suspension earned in Week 1, taking over from Brendan Daly at lock. Isaac Helu drops out with injury, replaced on the flank by Siupeli Sakalia.
There is a change at halfback with Devereaux Ferris getting the nod this week over Michael Reid, and Junior Helu will do his best impression of the absent Mils Muliaina in the midfield. Siaosi Mahoni and Pila Huihui return to the squad among the reserves, and there is a new addition to the team in the form of SFGG hooker Neil Barrett, who looks set to cover the back row with no other loose forwards named.
The Rush look a totally different team in recent weeks but the absence of key players this week is an unwelcome disruption. Ohio on the other hand are functioning well as a unit and have relatively few missing with injury or rep duty. San Francisco will need to find a way to slow down the Aviators attack, or risk becoming the next victims to the surging Ohio franchise.
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 Shaun Davies (capt.) 10 Zac Mizell 11 Alex Elkins 12 Roland Suniula 13 Dominic Waldouck 14 Spike Davis 15 Allan Hanson
16 Peter Malcolm 17 Derrek van Klein 18 Dominic Pezzutti 19 Chad Joseph 20 Ryan Cochran 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Chris Kunkel 23 Ahmad Harajly
SAN FRANCISCO RUSH
1 Niko Lolohea 2 Patrick Latu 3 Fancy Namulau’ulu 4 Nick Grass 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Siupeli Sakalia 7 Sam Finau 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Devereaux Ferris 10 Volney Rouse (capt.) 11 Jake Anderson 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Junior Helu 14 Michael Haley 15 Martini Talapusi
16 Jacob Finau 17 Codi Jones 18 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 19 Siaosi Mahoni 20 Neil Barrett 21 Michael Reid 22 Pila Huihui 23 Jack O’Hara
Date: Sunday, June 26
Venue: Memorial Field, Obetz
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 PDT, 13:00 MDT)
Referee: Derek Summers
Assistants: Nick Ricono & Jamie Miller
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream) & Time Warner (cable)
Tickets: TicketsWest
