San Diego steal one from Ohio

A last-second try by Charlie Purdon saved San Diego’s blushes and snatched certain victory away from Ohio at Torero Stadium on Sunday. In a messy affair disrupted by erratic passing, injuries, and bizarre substitutions, Ohio looked to have done enough only to watch San Diego drive the length of the field and leave the blindside wide open deep in their end for Purdon to sneak through untouched for the win.

Kurt Morath had the first points on the board with a successful goal after a huge hit by Taku Ngwenya earned a penalty. Ohio responded with gusto, however, and a rolling maul put them in striking range. Jamie Mackintosh took a short ball and barreled over for the first try, with JP Eloff making no mistake with the conversion.

In near carbon-copy fashion, San Diego hit back almost immediately with a driving maul of their own. Sione Tu’ihalamaka picked from a ruck at close range and there was no stopping the big man, with Morath’s kick pushing the home team ahead by three.

A critical moment came in the 24th minute when Eloff went down with what looked like a serious ankle injury. As Ohio’s star playmaker left the pitch and Allan Hanson come on as a replacement, Roland Suniula moved to flyhalf. At the same time they made an unusual decision to switch scrumhalf Robbie Shaw and center Ryan Cochran, with the latter taking over the halfback duties.

The change did not help continuity, and things got worse soon after when lock Kyle Baillie departed and was replaced by prop Demecus Beach. With players seemingly unsure what role they should be filling the following minutes became disjointed, with a penalty goal by Shaw ending an unscripted half of rugby.

Purdon played the villain before his grand redemption, finding himself in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle just minutes after coming on as a replacement for Tom Bliss at the break. San Diego nearly held out for the duration with Shaw’s second penalty goal coming just as Purdon returned to the pitch.

It was San Diego who scored next, with a Tai Tuisamoa charge sucking in the defense and leaving Ohio shorthanded on the left flank and giving Phil Mackenzie the space to dart over. Morath was on target but the celebrations were short-lived. Ohio came roaring back with their own series of phases until Sebastián Kalm pumped his legs through the tacklers and over the line. Shaw’s extras gave Ohio a three-point lead.

With substitutes streaming into the game and legs beginning to tire, the space opened up for San Diego’s final assault and Purdon’s heroics, much to the delight of the home crowd. Morath wrapped things up with a terrific conversion as the celebrations began.

San Diego now move into second place behind undefeated Denver, and have a week off before hosting Sacramento. Ohio will limp back to Obetz where they will first entertain that same Sacramento side at Memorial Park on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO 24
Tries – S. Tu’ihalamaka (16), P. Mackenzie (62), C. Purdon (80)
Cons – K. Morath 3 (17, 63, 80)
Pens – K. Morath (10)
Yellow cards – C. Purdon (44)

OHIO 20
Tries – J. Mackintosh (12), S. Kalm (69)
Cons – J. Eloff (13), R. Shaw (70)
Pens – R. Shaw 2 (40, 54)

SAN DIEGO
1 Hubert Buydens 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai 3 Joe Taufete’e 4 David Dolinar 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Chris Turori 7 Cecil Garber 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Tom Bliss 10 Kurt Morath 11 Phil Mackenzie (capt.) 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya 15 Mike Te’o

16 Tim Barford 17 Kakalia Pule 18 Mason Pedersen 19 Nikola Bursic 20 Ian Carpenter 21 Charlie Purdon 22 Kalei Konrad 23 Tim Stanfill

OHIO
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Angus MacLellan 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Matt Hughston 7 Chad Joseph 8 Sebastián Kalm 9 Robbie Shaw (capt.) 10 JP Eloff 11 Mason Baum 12 Roland Suniula 13 Ryan Cochran 14 Spike Davis 15 Ahmad Harajly

16 Chris Schade 17 Anthony Parry 18 Demecus Beach 19 Ryan McTiernan 20 Zach Stryffeler 21 Allan Hanson 22 Alex Elkins 23 Chris Kunkel

Referee: Kurt Weaver
Assistants: Nick Ricono & Scott Green