Rush hold on to edge Express

San Francisco just edged past hosts Sacramento in a wild contest at Bonney Field on Saturday evening. The win secures 4th place for the Rush, and the bottom rung on the ladder for the Express in the first ever PRO Rugby season.

Volney Rouse led the way with a penalty goal inside three minutes. The dream start continued as Jay Finau burrowed over from close range, with Rouse’s extras adding fuel to the fire. A cynical foul from the skipper on the next sequence of play landed Rouse in the bin and the Express took full advantage with a try to Chris Saint after their scrum started to exert its dominance.

Mirco Bergamasco drew things level with a penalty goal but it didn’t last. The Rush were next to score, with some high tempo phase play resulting in Sam Finau cutting in back on the angle to wrong-foot the defense and bust through for a try. Bergamasco responded with his second penalty but John Quill was dispatched next for repeat infringements and San Francisco ramped up their attack.

Mils Muliaina was showing his class, dummying his way through the line and finding Devereaux Ferris on his inside to race in from 40 meters out. The zippy halfback notched a second as he ripped in on the stroke of halftime to give his side a commanding 29-13 lead at the break.

Some misfortune handed Muliaina his own score just moments into the second half. A long tactical kick was fumbled by the Sacramento defense and Muliaina was there to pounce on the ball for a try. With the writing on the wall the Express could have wilted, but instead they pulled up their socks and fired back in a torrid final half hour.

The scrum proved instrumental as it won a penalty try in the 54th minute and kept the Rush on their heels. Olive Kilifi came on as an impact sub and filled his role to perfection, picking and driving over the line with a little help from Quill. It seemed as though Sacramento might break through again to tie things up but instead a skew lineout throw turned over possession and cost them three points via the boot of Rouse. A final score from Kali Tavake was academic as the whistle sounded on Bergamasco’s conversion.

With that the two sides can kick up their feet and celebrate the completion of their inaugural PRO Rugby campaigns. While their final placings were reflective of their early season form, both have shown dramatic improvements over the course of the last three months and can be proud of their efforts at the close of chapter one.

SACRAMENTO 34
Tries – C. Saint (17), Penalty try (54), O. Kilifi (69), K. Tavake (80)
Cons – M. Bergamasco 4 (18, 55, 70, 80)
Pens – M. Bergamasco 2 (23, 29)
Yellow cards – J. Quill (31)

SAN FRANCISCO 37
Tries – J. Finau (11), S. Finau (25), D. Ferris 2 (37, 40), M. Muliaina (43)
Cons – V. Rouse 3 (12, 38, 40)
Pens – V. Rouse 2 (3, 77)
Yellow cards – V. Rouse (13)

SACRAMENTO EXPRESS
1 Eric Fry 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Valdemar Lee-Lo 4 Robert Meeson 5 Matt Doubek 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.) 7 John Quill 8 Langi Haupeakui 9 Chris Saint 10 Mirco Bergamasco 11 Garrett Brewer 12 Nemia Qoro 13 Jope Motokana 14 Cody Jerabek 15 Harry Bennett

16 Cameron Falcon 17 Olive Kilifi 18 Estephan Tuamasaga 19 Ryan Koewler 20 Kali Tavake 21 Ronald Dwyer 22 Alex Hodgkinson 23 Shane Moore

SAN FRANCISCO RUSH
1 Codi Jones 2 Jacob Finau 3 Patrick Latu 4 Brendan Daly 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Sam Finau 7 Isaac Helu 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Devereaux Ferris 10 Volney Rouse (capt.) 11 Pila Iongi 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Nick Blevins 14 Michael Haley 15 Mils Muliaina

16 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 17 Niko Lolohea 18 Fancy Namulau’ulu 19 Siupeli Sakalia 20 Jack O’Hara 21 Michael Reid 22 Junior Helu 23 Jake Anderson

Referee: Leah Berard
Assistants: Scott Green & Tim Lew