Denver take Express route to victory

Denver are one step closer to the top of the PRO Rugby log as they hammered the disappointing Sacramento Express by a score of 59-13 at CIBER Field on Sunday. Sacramento scored first, as they often do, through the boot of Mirco Bergamasco but it was all Denver for the remainder as the Stampede crossed for nine tries before the final whistle sounded. The bonus-point victory brings them to within a single point of Ohio with one week at hand.

The first was perhaps a sign of things to come as Chad London weaved through half the Sacramento team to score under the posts. Ata Malifa was next to expose the abject tackling, gliding through a gap to put Timana Tahu in with ease at the corner. Denver had barely broken a sweat and they were up 12-3.

Bergamasco missed one but connected on a second penalty goal on the 15-minute mark. The Stampede responded straight away, and with gusto. Simple phase play and a short ball from Pedrie Wannenburg put Zach Fenoglio in for another try, and then Max de Achaval touched down a picture-perfect grubber that Will Magie threaded through the line. Malifa himself stepped through some dreadful defense for the fifth try of the opening 40 minutes. At 33-6 the game was all but over with still a full half to play.

Tahu’s second came from the simplest of blindside attacks from a scrum, with straight hands putting the left winger in and around for the score. After 20 minutes of coasting, Dustin Croy got in on the celebrations, spinning and dancing through more hapless green jerseys to add salt to the wound.

Hanco Germishuys was the seventh man in a Denver shirt to collect a try with only a handful of minutes left to play. Alex Hodgkinson did his best London impression to skate through the Stampede for Sacramento’s only try. Not content to let it rest, Denver had the last laugh when Mike Garrity barged over to bring up full-time.

Both teams are in action in the penultimate week of PRO Rugby’s first season next weekend. Sacramento will try to find better luck at home against a floundering San Diego on Saturday, and Denver look to retake their position as league leaders when they travel to San Francisco on Sunday.

DENVER 59
Tries – C. London (6), T. Tahu 2 (11, 47), Z. Fenoglio (18), M. de Achaval (22), A. Malifa (40), D. Croy (68), H. Germishuys (74), M. Garrity (79)
Cons – W. Magie 7 (7, 19, 23, 40, 69, 75, 80)
Yellow cards – Z. Fenoglio (63)

SACRAMENTO 13
Tries – A. Hodgkinson (77)
Cons – M. Bergamasco (78)
Pens – M. Bergamasco 2 (4, 15)
Yellow cards – C. Falcon (46)

DENVER STAMPEDE
1 Ben Tarr 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Chris Baumann 4 Luke White 5 Logan Collins 6 Hanco Germishuys 7 Peter Dahl 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (capt.) 9 Mose Timoteo 10 Will Magie 11 Timana Tahu 12 Ata Malifa 13 Chad London 14 Mike Garrity 15 Maximo de Achaval

16 Nick Wallace 17 Jake Turnbull 18 Soane Leger 19 Christian Wiessing 20 Zac Pauga 21 Bobby Impson 22 Kyle Hitt 23 Dustin Croy

SACRAMENTO EXPRESS
1 Eric Fry 2 Cameron Falcon 3 Estephan Tuamasaga 4 Robert Meeson 5 Matt Doubek 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 John Quill (capt.) 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Chris Saint 10 Harry Bennett 11 Garrett Brewer 12 Pate Takiveikata 13 Mirco Bergamasco 14 Cody Jerabek 15 Alex Hodgkinson

16 Kali Tavake 17 Toke Kefu 18 Olive Kilifi 19 Ryan Koewler 20 Sione Latu 21 Ronald Dwyer 22 Jope Motokana 23 Shane Moore

Referee: Kurt Weaver
Assistants: Derek Summers & Paul Knowles