Ohio battle for win over Sacramento

Ohio continued their winning ways at Bonney Field on Saturday evening, but not before Sacramento showed their courage with a stirring final 20 minutes that left the score a respectable 41-31. The Aviators offensive machine was again to the fore with their offloading abilities making things incredibly difficult for the Sacramento defense.

After a feeling-out process over the opening 10 minutes, Sacramento looked to have successfully repelled the Ohio overtures but a reckless chop tackle from Jope Motokana saw a turnover penalty reversed and the Aviators kicked for the corner. The rolling maul was inevitable and Jamie Mackintosh peeled off the back for the first score. Shaun Davies converted from a wide angle to make it a full seven.

The Express responded in the best way possible. Ohio were under pressure from the restart and from a 5 meter scrum Sacramento pounded ahead with their forwards. There was no thought of looking to the back as they hammered at the line until Langi Haupeakui inched his way over, with Mirco Bergamasco’s routine conversion drawing scores level.

Some exciting back and forth ended with a breakaway try for Riekert Hattingh. Sacramento were advancing but Chad Joseph ripped the ball clean away from Kyle Sumsion and the Aviators swung it wide left, then all the way back right. Spike Davis took on Joeli Tikoisuva and though the Fijian managed to stop him, the offload was left behind perfectly for Hattingh to burst onto and sprint away 30 meters, striding through the despairing tackle of Harry Bennett for the score.

A tough call on a charging Valdemar Lee-Lo for not releasing before carrying on cost Sacramento building momentum, and Dom Waldouck raced through a gap to put the Express back on their own line. The scramble defense was good but it was just a matter of time until the space opened out wide and Waldouck’s textbook pass released Davis around the corner for a well-worked try.

Bergamasco was good on a penalty kick before the break, but nearly ended it in the bin after a tip-tackle on Kyle Baillie that the referee decided was worth only a penalty and a stern talking-too. Ohio couldn’t capitalize on the error and it was 19-10 to the visitors at half.

The Aviators struck first after the breather. Roland Suniula ran straight through three poor tackle attempts to ramble 40 meters, stopped just short of the line. A quick recycle and slick hands from Zac Mizell put the ball in the hands of Alex Elkins and the big winger bashed over the line to score a killer blow.

Discipline was becoming a problem for Sacramento and another penalty gave Ohio an attacking lineout in scoring position. The maul did its job once again, and though Dylan Fawsitt didn’t quite make it, the hooker’s offload to Hattingh put the South African over for his second try.

Dreams of a comeback turned to nightmares at the kickoff as a wonky bounce ended in Joseph’s hands, and one pass put Davis on the charge down the right wing. Alex Hodgkinson caught him but Baillie was in perfect support to take the short ball over the line for another nail.

Sacramento were dead and buried when Spike Davis grabbed a double in the 58th minute. Haupeakui was in the bin for a tackle off the ball and Suniula ripped through the line with the overlap. Davis took it the final 20 meters and with the score 41-10 after the conversion chins were dropping on the home side.

Fortunately for the fans in attendance the Express pulled up their socks in a remarkable final quarter. Cody Jerabek attacked the fringes and Jope Motokana hit Shane Moore coming in on an angle to score a much-needed try.

It was Jerabek again who created a second moments later. The flying winger tore around the outside and 70 meters down the field, hauled down just short by Sebastián Kalm. Ronald Dwyer was on the spot and the little replacement scrumhalf popped to a charging Kali Tavake who crunched through the defense for another score.

Shades of doubt crept into the Aviators when Haupeakui ripped around the back of an overthrown lineout. Toke Kefu was the first there and the heavyweight prop picked and drove his way over the line for a third converted try in five minutes.

That would be the end of the comeback, however, as Ohio tightened up and ground down the clock. The Aviators now enjoy a week off before their final pair of matches while Sacramento travel to Denver to face title challengers Denver on Sunday.

SACRAMENTO 31
Tries – L. Haupeakui (17), S. Moore (64), K. Tavake (66), T. Kefu (71)
Cons – M. Bergamasco 4 (18, 65, 68, 72)
Pens – M. Bergamasco (39)
Yellow cards – L. Haupeakui (55)

OHIO 41
Tries – J. Mackintosh (13), R. Hattingh 2 (30, 50), S. Davis 2 (35, 58), A. Elkins (44), K. Baillie (52)
Cons – S. Davies 3 (14, 31, 59)

SACRAMENTO EXPRESS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Cameron Falcon 3 Estephan Tuamasaga 4 Robert Meeson 5 Matt Doubek 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.) 7 John Quill 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Jope Motokana 10 Harry Bennett 11 Joeli Tikoisuva 12 Mirco Bergamasco 13 Pate Takiveikata 14 Cody Jerabek 15 Alex Hodgkinson

16 Kali Tavake 17 Toke Kefu 18 Olive Kilifi 19 Ryan Koewler 20 Sione Latu 21 Ronald Dwyer 22 Garrett Brewer 23 Shane Moore

OHIO AVIATORS
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Demecus Beach 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Kyle Baillie 6 Chad Joseph 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 Dominic Pezzutti 19 Zach Stryffeler 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Ahmad Harajly 23 Allan Hanson

Referee: Nick Ricono
Assistants: Scott Green & Tim Lew