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Ohio will be looking to rebound from their gut-wrenching last-second loss to San Diego a week ago as they host Sacramento at Memorial Park in Obetz on Sunday afternoon. With a 2-2 record that could easily read 4-0, the Eastern-most franchise will also have to move forward without star playmaker JP Eloff, whose broken leg will likely keep him out of the lineup for the rest of the season. The 1-3 Sacramento meanwhile are coming off a 35-13 defeat to Denver that wasn’t quite as lopsided as the scoreline suggests.
The return of captain Shaun Davies from a head knock will help soften the loss of Eloff, and Robbie Shaw will move to flyhalf to fill the gap. Allan Hanson starts in place of Ahmad Harajly at fullback in the only other change to the backs for Ohio. Up front Canadian lock Kyle Baillie misses out due to injury, replaced by Dominic Pezzutti, but Filippo Ferrarini is fit to play after being a late scratch in San Diego.
A new arrival in the form of prop Derrek van Klein is on the bench. The former Metropolis tighthead spent the past few months playing with James Bay in BC’s CDI Premier League. Alex Elkins has been selected as a reserve forward after coming on in the back row against San Diego, and local winger Shawn Riley makes his first match day appearance for the club.
Sacramento have made only three changes to the team. John Quill and Langi Haupeakui miss out with injury, with veteran lock Matt Doubek handed a start and Robert Meeson shifting out to the blindside flank. Sione Latu is recalled at no8, and Ryan Thompson returns to the lineup in place of Shane Moore.
The bench sees a new addition in hooker Cam Falcon, who ironically could make his Sacramento debut against the team he was initially assigned to. With Peter Malcolm preferred at Ohio and both Dylan Fawsitt and Chris Schade also on the roster, Falcon will instead try his luck in California. Reserve lock Rich Knight returns from a short loan to San Francisco, and Jope Motokana is back from injury taking the place of Ronald Dwyer.
With both sides absent key players this game could be a lot closer than the form guide suggests. Ohio have their star loose forward trio back together but Sacramento have a strong tight five who could make life difficult in the trenches. Mirco Bergamasco looks to be making more of an impact with each outing, and his influence could be key to putting pressure on the Ohio decision makers. This should be a close match, with the home side looking just a bit stronger in terms of sheer firepower.
The match kicks off at 3pm local and will be streamed live on the official PRO Rugby site, and broadcast on cable for Ohio viewers on Time Warner Cable.
OHIO
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Angus MacLellan 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Dominic Pezzutti 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Matt Hughston 8 Sebastián Kalm 9 Shaun Davies (capt.) 10 Robbie Shaw 11 Mason Baum 12 Roland Suniula 13 Ryan Cochran 14 Spike Davis 15 Allan Hanson
16 Derrek van Klein 17 Demecus Beach 18 Chad Joseph 19 Alex Elkins 20 Ahmad Harajly 21 Shawn Riley 22 Chris Kunkel 23 Chris Schade
SACRAMENTO
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Olive Kilifi 4 Matt Doubek 5 Sione Sina 6 Robert Meeson 7 Kyle Sumsion 8 Sione Latu 9 Chris Saint 10 Pate Takiveikata 11 Joeli Tikoisuva 12 Mirco Bergamasco 13 Nemia Qoro 14 Ryan Thompson 15 Garrett Brewer
16 Cameron Falcon 17 Toke Kefu 18 Kali Tavake 19 Rich Knight 20 Estephan Tuamasaga 21 Shane Moore 22 Jope Motokana 23 Ryan Koewler
Date: Sunday, May 22
Venue: Memorial Park, Obetz
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 PDT, 13:00 MDT)
Referee: Kurt Weaver
Assistants: Leah Berard & Jamie Miller
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream) & Time Warner Cable (cable)
Tickets: TicketsWest
