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Sacramento host the Ohio Aviators at Bonney Field on Saturday in the first of two PRO games on the weekend to start the final quarter of the season. The Express were inspired against San Francisco and earned just their second win of the season on Sunday, while Ohio had little trouble with San Diego and now sit a the top of the table, though they do have two games at hand on second place Denver.
Luke Gross has made just two changes to his run-on Express team. Pate Takiveikata starts in the midfield over Nemia Qoro, and Joeli Tikoisuva replaces Ryan Thompson on the wing. Shane Moore takes up the vacant spot on the bench. Sione Latu is also among the reserves with Ray Barkwill ruled out due to injury. Kali Tavake covers hooker after acting as a loose forward for the past two games.
Ohio also only show a pair of alterations to their side. Kyle Baillie replaces Ryan McTiernan at lock, and Chad Joseph steps in for Filippo Ferrarini on the flank. The bench sees a return to a conventional 5-3 split for the first time since Week 7 with Peter Malcolm fit for duty and both Dominic Pezzutti and Zach Stryffeler available to cover lock and loose forward respectively.
It would be unwise to bet against the in-form team in the league against the bottom-ranked side, but Sacramento played some superb attacking rugby at times against San Francisco and in Langi Haupeakui they have a devastating attacker. His opposite Riekert Hattingh has looked a real find for Ohio, albeit in a very different style. If the Aviators can limit the effects of the rampaging Express train, they should have little trouble taking care of the rest. Despite their upswing in form, a Sacramento win would still be a major upset at this point.
SACRAMENTO EXPRESS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Cameron Falcon 3 Estephan Tuamasaga 4 Robert Meeson 5 Matt Doubek 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 John Quill (capt.) 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Jope Motokana 10 Harry Bennett 11 Cody Jerabek 12 Mirco Bergamasco 13 Pate Takiveikata 14 Joeli Tikoisuva 15 Alex Hodgkinson
16 Kali Tavake 17 Toke Kefu 18 Olive Kilifi 19 Ryan Koewler 20 Sione Latu 21 Ronald Dwyer 22 Garrett Brewer 23 Shane Moore
OHIO AVIATORS
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Demecus Beach 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Chad Joseph 7 Sebastián Kalm 8 Riekert Hattingh 9 Shaun Davies (capt.) 10 Taylor Howden 11 Alex Elkins 12 Roland Suniula 13 Dominic Waldouck 14 Spike Davis 15 Zac Mizell
16 Peter Malcolm 17 Derrek van Klein 18 Angus MacLellan 19 Dominic Pezzutti 19 Zach Stryffeler 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Ahmad Harajly 23 Allan Hanson
Date: Saturday, July 9
Venue: Bonney Field, Sacramento
Kickoff: 19:30 local (20:30 MDT, 22:30 EDT)
Referee: Nick Ricono
Assistants: Scott Green & Tim Lew
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream)
Tickets: TicketMaster
