What was expected to be a matchup of two of the best teams in the league, turned into a blowout that was not as close as the score suggests. Ohio had San Diego on their heels the whole game. With international play starting up, it was going to be interesting to see how the teams react to losing their players. It seems that Ohio has dealt with it more than San Diego. San Diego is also dealing with a few injuries. Both Phil Mackenzie and Hubert Buydens, who was invited to the Canada camp but not selected, were out with injuries.

San Diego starts the match kicking to Ohio. Dom Waldouck scores a try in his first match for Ohio. The try was scary similar to the one Denver scored last week. Where the kick was head to the sideline, the Breakers player misjudged it, and the Aviators were able to collect and offload for the try; Robbie Shaw with the conversion to make it 7-0. San Diego was almost able to answer back a few minutes later as Ryan Matyas was able to make a great run through the Aviator defense before Spike Davis brought him down, but he had a outrun his support and turned the ball back over to Ohio. Ohio converted a penalty kick given for offsides to make it 10-0 Ohio; during this passage of play Breakers flanker Cecil Garber went in for a tackle and got knocked woozy having hit his head on the hip of the opposing player. Robbie Shaw’s next penalty kick went just wide as the wind became a factor for the first time today. A few minutes later Kurt Morath, with a penalty kick, put San Diego on the board for the first time after an offsides call on Ohio. Ryan Matyas made another great run here where he had some support. A few minutes later Alex Elkins scored a fantastic try for Ohio. Ohio had a scrum and worked the ball wide to Elkins who powered his way in the last five meters. Shaw with the conversion, 17-3 Ohio. On the restart there was a gathering of the minds and fists, as Jamie Mackintosh went to defend his teammate who got taken out in the air. Both Mackintosh (Ohio) and Pono Haitsuka (San Diego) got yellow carded. San Diego was able to almost immediately take advantage with a try from Kalei Konrad. San Diego worked the middle of the field before going wide and finding Konrad for the score. Morath conversion good, 17-10 Ohio. A few minutes later Elkins put another try on the board for Ohio with a beautiful 60m run while running over a few Breakers in the process. Shaw conversion missed, 22-10 Ohio. San Diego didn’t let that try get themselves down as they answered with a try of their own from Ben Leatigaga. San Diego got the ball after a not straight lineout from Ohio and Morath just stabbed the ball through the defense and Leatigaga recovered and scored. Morath conversion good, 22-17 Ohio. Ohio ended the half with a try from Spike Davis. They worked the middle of field, eventually started the pick and go with about ten meters to go, and finally worked the ball wide to Davis, who dotted it down. Shaw conversion good, 27-17 Ohio.

The second half starts with Ohio kicking to San Diego, who can do nothing with it as Dom Waldouck scores his second try of the match after a beautiful piece of play. Riekert Hattingh ran through the defense, offloaded to Allen Hanson, who offloaded to Waldouck for the try. Shaw conversion good, 34-17 Ohio. The wind came into play again as Morath pushed a penalty kick just wide. Charlie Purdon tried a little stab ball through, but put a little too much on it as it went long. San Diego were able to work the ball down near the Ohio try for nearly ten minutes. They twice held up by Ohio. Ohio was finally able to get some clearance after Alex Elkins was able to steal the ball while making the tackle and they were able to kick the ball away. Chris Kunkel scored a try that should be considered SportsCenter Top 10 worthy just a few minutes later. Kunkel received the pass and dummied the whole back line of San Diego and ran 40m untouched for the try. Shaun Davies with the conversion, 41-17 Ohio. Dom Waldouck, just few minutes later, got a hat trick of tries to conclude his wonderful first game of PRO Rugby. Ohio was able to work the ball around from their own try line to score. Davies conversion good, 48-17 Ohio. Ohio continued to pour it own as Spike Davis scored another try, another pick and go this time, he wasn’t held in the tackled and powered his way over the last 5m. Davies conversion good, 55-17 Ohio. San Diego was able to make the score a little more respectable the last couple minutes of the game with tries from Leatigaga and Zach Pangelinan, another player making his first appearance. Morath went 1 for 2 on the conversions. Final score 55-29 Ohio.

Another absolutely demolishing home win for Ohio. San Diego showed that their missing players are absolutely crucial to their success. Some bad news for Ohio as coach Paulie Barford said Matt Hughston broke his jaw in the first half. Alex Elkins and Spike Davis absolutely had their way with the Breakers today. They both earn player of the match from me. Imagine what these two will be like when they get a few more years of rugby experience under their belts. And this is what the world is talking about when they refer to America as a sleeping giant of rugby. Both Elkins and Davis are both American Football converts. Imagine if we had a lot more of those kinds of players with that kind of natural talent and skill; watch out world, here comes the USA.

Scoring

San Diego

Tries: Konrad, Leatigaga (x2), Pangelinan

Cons: Morath 3/4

Pens: Morath 1/2

Ohio

Tries: Waldouck (x3), Elkins (x2), Davis (x2), Kunkel

Cons: Shaw 3/5, Davies 3/3

Pens: Shaw 1/2