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It’s the final week of PRO Rugby’s inaugural season and an entertaining match between Sacramento and San Francisco at Bonney Field will serve as an appetizer for the Sunday’s finale in Ohio. With only three points separating the two sides, the winner will escape the foot of the table – the loser takes home the Wooden Spoon. A couple big names are back just in time to add a little spice to the mix.
Ray Barkwill has tightened up his tape job enough to start in the Sacramento front row, with Cam Falcon sliding to the bench in one of two changes to the side. The other sees the return of rampaging no8 Langi Haupeakui after a week on the sidelines. Kyle Sumsion pushes up to the flank and Kali Tavake is on the bench. One further alteration among the reserves has Alex Hodgkinson named in place of Joeli Tikoisuva.
The Rush have also plumped for two changes in the run-on side. Brendan Daly moves back into the second row to allow Isaac Helu a start on the side of the scrum, with Sam Finau switching to the blindside. After being a late scratch a week ago, Mils Muliaina is fit to resume duties and he lines up at fullback for the first time in PRO. Niko Lolohea replaces Neil Barrett on the bench, with Jack O’Hara covering loose forward and Jake Anderson the outside backs.
Of course both teams will be itching to end their seasons on a high. Despite the relatively short season the collisions have been full-blooded and bodies will be battered and bruised. Players have one last chance to put themselves in the shop window for selectors and scouts, so expect a fiercely competitive match.
Sacramento were clear winners in Week 12 and though both have improved even since then, it’s hard to see how San Francisco can close the 24-point gap in such little time. This will undoubtedly be closer, but the Express look ready to take one step up the ladder in the last moment of asking.
SACRAMENTO EXPRESS
1 Eric Fry 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Valdemar Lee-Lo 4 Robert Meeson 5 Matt Doubek 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.) 7 John Quill 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Chris Saint 10 Mirco Bergamasco 11 Garrett Brewer 12 Nemia Qoro 13 Jope Motokana 14 Cody Jerabek 15 Harry Bennett
16 Cameron Falcon 17 Olive Kilifi 18 Estephan Tuamasaga 19 Ryan Koewler 20 Kali Tavake 21 Ronald Dwyer 22 Alex Hodgkinson 23 Shane Moore
SAN FRANCISCO RUSH
1 Codi Jones 2 Jacob Finau 3 Patrick Latu 4 Brendan Daly 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Sam Finau 7 Isaac Helu 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Devereaux Ferris 10 Volney Rouse (capt.) 11 Pila Iongi 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Nick Blevins 14 Michael Haley 15 Mils Muliaina
16 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 17 Niko Lolohea 18 Fancy Namulau’ulu 19 Siupeli Sakalia 20 Jack O’Hara 21 Michael Reid 22 Junior Helu 23 Jake Anderson
Date: Saturday, July 30
Venue: Bonney Field, Sacramento
Kickoff: 19:30 local (20:30 MDT, 22:30 EDT)
Referee: Leah Berard
Assistants: Scott Green & Tim Lew
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream) & ONE World Sport (cable)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
