Photo credit: Aubrey Huey (City View Photography)
By Evan Lappen (Rugby Today) | 02.16.16
With week six in the books, three undefeated teams remain with Life West and the EPA Razorbacks atop the south division and Santa Rosa alone in the north. The EPA Razorbacks’ speed and quickness took care of the previously unbeaten Sacramento Lions, 26-13, and Life West continued to rack up the points and bodies as they laid waste to the Sacramento Blackhawks, 50-7. Santa Rosa dispatched the San Jose Seahawks and San Francisco – Golden Gate finally earned its first win of the season over Fresno 38-17.
One the most highly anticipated matches of the season is next week when Life West travels to the EPA Razorbacks for a battle of unbeaten. The defending division champs will hope to contain the high-scoring upstarts in a closely watched match.
Sacramento Blackhawks at the Life West Gladiators
Coming into the game against the Sacramento Blackhawks, Life West led most the standing categories including points scored, points differential, and overall standing points. The Gladiators once again lived up to their hype downing the Blackhawks 50-7. In the victory, Life West rested a good number of their starters giving some of the less experienced players valuable playing time.
Playing at newly sodded Sunset Field at the Hayward Adult School in Hayward, Calif., Life West struck early and often. Tyler Harrison (2), Taniela Vakauta, Niko Lolohea, Junior Helu, Tyler Hutcherson, and Tookey Stevenson each scored for the Gladiators. Flyhalf Orene Ai’i was five for seven on conversions. Scrumhalf Josh Toy scored Sacramento’s lone try with Rich Knight kicking the conversion.
“The key to the game was winning enough possession,” Life West head coach Adriaan Ferris. “We know we have a style conducive to scoring tries, but we felt we needed to adapt the way we play slightly to take on their big forward pack. Effectively, it was the forwards who laid our foundation.”