Ohio win but Denver crowned Champions

It was heartbreak in Obetz as the home town Ohio Aviators scored a last minute try to win a classic match at Memorial Field 32-25, but with the gap only seven points and the visitors already on four tries the result means the Denver Stampede are the PRO Rugby champions at the first time of asking. Fans got all they could have asked for in a pulsating game of rugby with big hits, big runs, and plenty of drama.

The tension was palpable from the get-go and the scoreboard was finally cracked in the 12th minute. Denver tried to milk a turnover by not engaging a maul, but Ohio were wise to the tactic and pulled out to keep the ball alive. On the second pick-and-go on the line New Zealand international Jamie Mackintosh had the strength to get under three defenders for the opening try.

No points came cheaply in the first half, and Denver tied things up with a try of their own from Chad London after Ryan McTiernan was binned for an incident behind the play. The US Eagles center stepped out of the shooting defense and sold a dummy to the winger, with his reach just long enough out of the desperation tackle from Roland Suniula to reach the line.

Timaha Tahu made it 14-on-14 as he joined McTiernan for a timeout soon after, and Shaun Davies made good on the penalty kick to make it 8-5 for the home side. In the 15 minutes left before the break neither team could find a score despite line breaks for Ohio from Suniula and Alex Elkins.

Davies and Will Magie went tit-for-tat on penalty goals early in the second half, and then the Ohio maul went to business. This time Denver were in the fight but collapsed it just short of the line, leaving the referee no option but to award a penalty try under the sticks.

Just when it seemed the Aviators were pulling away their senses took a leave of absence and mistakes began to compound. Taylor Howden was caught in-goal before he could clear, and from the attacking scrum Dustin Croy came back in on an angle with Spike Davis left grasping at air for a score. Mackintosh was shown yellow for an indiscretion at the breakdown, and Tahu’s half-break through the middle put the trailing Zach Fenoglio over for a their third try.

A shocking hospital pass from Allan Hanson to Davis put the big winger under enormous pressure and from the turnover Hanco Germishuys raced ahead and nearly made it over. Two quick recycles later and the 19-year-old got his rewards for the bonus point try and a seven point lead. Hanson’s madness continued with a poorly struck return kick followed with a late challenge on the kicker that earned him a 10-minute break and left his side down a man at the worst possible time.

Somehow the Aviators mustered the energy to manufacture a try while shorthanded. With Denver knocking on the door for a death blow, Davis intercepted the pass and looked clear to the line only to be cut down by London in a brilliant cover tackle. Ohio kept on the pressure from the lineout, however, and eventually the try would come via Dylan Fawsitt at the end of another driving maul.

With the scores level Ohio regained possession and the Stampede were back on their heels again. Robbie Shaw worked his team left to in front of the posts and then brought it back to the right where Riekert Hattingh was lurking with intent. The South African took a short ball from Fawsitt through a gap for the try and the match-winner. Shaw’s conversion was good, but it wasn’t enough as the one-score differential handed Denver a second bonus point and the overall season title.

The match caps off a remarkable first season for PRO Rugby, who less than a year ago were simply an idea and a commitment to make professional rugby in North America work. While there is much to improve on for season two, there is plenty to applaud in a campaign that ultimately delivered on its promise to bring exciting, competitive rugby to one of the world’s most promising markets. Expansion and bigger names are certain to follow. For now Denver and Ohio will celebrate a cracking game of rugby and an historic opening to their professional careers.

OHIO 32
Tries – J. Mackintosh (12), Penalty try (49), D. Fawsitt (76), R. Hattingh (80)
Cons – S. Davies (50), R. Shaw 2 (77, 80)
Pens – S. Davies 2 (25, 43)
Yellow cards – R. McTiernan (20), J. Mackintosh (61), A. Hanson (68)

DENVER 25
Tries – C. London (21), D. Croy (56), Z. Fenoglio (64), H. Germishuys (67)
Cons – W. Magie (65)
Pens – W. Magie (45)
Yellow cards – T. Tahu (24)

OHIO AVIATORS
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Demecus Beach 4 Ryan McTiernan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Filippo Ferrarini 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 Pierce Dargan 19 Chad Joseph 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Ahmad Harajly 23 Allan Hanson

DENVER STAMPEDE
1 Luke White 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Chris Baumann 4 Logan Collins 5 Casey Rock 6 Hanco Germishuys 7 Peter Dahl 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (capt.) 9 Mose Timoteo 10 Will Magie 11 Dustin Croy 12 Timana Tahu 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 Martin Knoetze

Referee: Derek Summers
Assistants: Nick Ricono & Jamie Miller