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San Diego continued their winning ways with a big win over a resilient Sacramento side at Torero Stadium on Saturday evening in an entertaining if at times reckless display of running rugby. While the 44-23 score looks convincing enough, in truth it was a much closer match with a very contentious red card handed out to Sacramento captain John Quill just before the half-time hooter tilting the match heavily in favor of the home side.
Mirco Bergamasco opened the scoring – a familiar phrase this season – with a penalty goal in the opening minutes. Kalei Konrad evened it up with his own effort before a brilliant counter-attack from Mike Te’o led to a score for Tim Stanfill. It started with a big break around the outside from Te’o and the fullback chipped ahead for his flying winger to dive on the ball for an excellent try, converted by Konrad.
A second penalty from Bergamasco was answered almost instantaneously as Taku Ngwenya got up to win the restart for San Diego. Phil Mackenzie made some positive yardage and the ball was flung wide left. Stanfill couldn’t quite finish but after a few short phases from in close replacement scrumhalf Charlie Purdon was on hand to get the touchdown. Konrad added the extras to give his team an 11-point lead.
Not to be outdone, a quick throw-in from Jojo Tikoisuva to Bergamasco put the Italian in space. While there was a hint of a forward pass on the inside ball to Ray Barkwill, play went on and the Canadian hooker finished the two-on-one in copybook fashion, putting Quill away for a cracking score. Bergamasco added the kick and a penalty goal to bring his team back to within one before a truly bizarre moment.
With the scrum collapsed the ref’s call was play on and Purdon flew around to sack Langi Haupeakui in the confusion. Quill took exception to what appeared to be an offside position taken by the San Diego scrumhalf and twirled him out by his collar. Again it seemed to be play on, but the assistant referee’s flag went out and after a discussion with the referee a red card was brandished to Quill, much to the surprise of both the captain and many in observance. It was not clear from the replay whether there was any alternative explanation, nor any indication from the referee to suggest a punch or otherwise had been thrown. No doubt there will noise made about the incident during the week.
To Sacramento’s credit instead of wilting they threw everything at San Diego as they came out after the break. A sloppy pass was picked up by Olive Kilifi and the burly prop rumbled nearly 40 metres down the pitch, coming up just short. The ball came clear and it looked as though a certain try was on but for Nemia Qoro to take his eye of the ball at the crucial moment and knock on. Haupeakui made it double jeopardy as the big man powered over only to drop the ball in the act of diving over the line.
With fate in the hands of San Diego, Kurt Morath entered the match and the change immediately paid dividends with the Tongan international firing over the first of five successful kicks. A couple minutes later quick hands from Te’o put Ngwenya into space, and the speedster stepped past the clutches of four would-be tacklers to score a vintage individual effort and rip a hole in the San Diego sails.
Andrew Suniula’s try soon after effectively ended the contest, but not before Kilifi was awarded a consolation effort. Stanfill finally did get a second on the final whistle to round out the match with the Sacramento forwards nearing exhaustion.
Sacramento will be frustrated by the result but can take pride in their performance and now have a four week break to work out the kinks before traveling to Denver on June 26. San Diego meanwhile are straight back in action at home again next week, hosting that same Denver side in a pivotal match against the league leaders.
SAN DIEGO 44
Tries – T. Stanfill 2 (14, 80), C. Purdon (28), T. Ngwenya (58), A. Suniula (63)
Cons – K. Konrad 2 (15, 29), K. Morath 3 (59, 64, 80)
Pens – K. Konrad (12), K. Morath 2 (55, 75)
SACRAMENTO 23
Tries – J. Quill (33), O. Kilifi (68)
Cons – M. Bergamasco 2 (34, 69)
Pens – M. Bergamasco 3 (7, 27, 38)
Red cards – J. Quill (40)
SAN DIEGO
1 Hubert Buydens 2 Joe Taufete’e 3 Jake Ilnicki 4 Brian Doyle 5 David Dolinar 6 Chris Turori 7 Cecil Garber 8 Tai Tuisamoa 9 Tom Bliss 10 Kalei Konrad 11 Tim Stanfill 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Phil Mackenzie (capt.) 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya 15 Mike Te’o
16 Mike Sosene-Feagai 17 Mason Pedersen 18 Kakalea Pule 19 Nikola Bursic 20 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 21 Charlie Purdon 22 Kurt Morath 23 Ben Leatigaga
SACRAMENTO
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Olive Kilifi 4 Robert Meeson 5 Sione Sina 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 John Quill (capt.) 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Chris Saint 10 Mirco Bergamasco 11 Joeli Tikoisuva 12 Nemia Qoro 13 Sione Latu 14 Ryan Thompson 15 Garrett Brewer
16 Cameron Falcon 17 Toke Kefu 18 Estephan Tuamasaga 19 Matt Doubek 20 Ryan Koewler 21 Jope Motokana 22 Pate Takiveikata 23 Cody Jerabek
Referee: Leah Berard
Assistants: Nick Ricono & Jamie Miller
