(San Francisco, Calif.) Mile Pulu scored twice in the opening half hour as San Francisco Golden Gate built a decisive 21-point lead in besting the Olympic Club 31-29.
The 22-year-old center further assisted Jeff Colata's 14th-minute try and would have claimed a hat trick in the second half, but for off-the-ball foul play. A US regular during the first half of the 2009-10 Sevens World Series, Pulu exemplified SFGG's dangerous open-field and support running, instantaneously capable of overwhelming well-positioned defenders.
With SFGG jumping to a 24-3 edge, Saturday's contest lacked suspense. O Club were purposeful in attack and may have enjoyed a statistical edge in possession, but their all-international backrow provided no advantage at the breakdown while service and backline passing wanted speed and precision. Short those vital seconds, they struggled to pressure their opposites, particularly in the crucial early going.
Despite February's lack of match practice and several personnel changes from a year ago, the hosts played a lot like 2009's Super League championship edition. Routine plays routinely become dangerous. Though flyhalf Volney Rouse has gone overseas, Jone Naqica's return to pair with apparently healthy Mose Timoteo portends experienced steering of an explosive offense.
Still, this was Northern California's preeminent rivalry match -- caricatured by one observer as San Francisco's Marina district (O Club) versus the Sunset (SFGG) -- and the visitors made no quit in claiming three tries from the final 24 minutes. If skipper Kort Schubert is no longer able to take a game over, he remains a busy, canny playmaker who deserved his try at game's end.
Just 2 minutes in, Pulu jaunted 40 yards down the left sideline, finishing a counterattack springing from a blocked kick. After Chris Gurecki converted 1 of 2 penalty chances, Colata struck with a second try from behind the midfield stripe, making the count 12-3.
Then followed SFGG tries by wing Hector Quiles, set up by Dan LaPrevotte's downfield thrust in the 27th minute, and Pulu's second, launched in the 29th by a bruising run from Samu Manoa, rarely stopped this Saturday by the first defender.
O Club responded with a five-pointer from young loosehead Kevin Herrera, cutting the halftime lead to 24-8.
As the forwards came more into view on a pleasant Treasure Island afternoon, hooker Chris Biller knifed through at 48 minutes for the opening score of the second period -- and SFGG's final points of the game.
Gurecki goaled at 56 minutes, following a line break from industrious Rob Weedon. Following a nondescript 20 minutes, prop Jon Kollerer nabbed a try at 74 minutes to bring the count to 31-22. Then, after Pulu was whistled back, O Club mounted a final surge, pressuring SFGG into a series of penalties, and Schubert's tap move proved too quick and powerful to stop.
The non-league match was played to benefit the Kathleen Ann McClenahan Foundation for breast cancer. A portion of the gate is to be donated to the charity, as well as the proceeds from an auction of the Olympic Club's match-day pink jerseys.
O Club, 5-0 in Northern California's first division, next hosts the Sacramento Capitals. Golden Gate travels to Denver for a Super League opener against the Barbarians, felled by the San Franciscans on the final play of last year's semifinal.
San Francisco Golden Gate 31 Olympic Club 29 (halftime: SFGG 24-8)
San Francisco Golden Gate
Tries: Mile Pulu (2), Jeff Colata, Hector Quiles, Chris Biller
Conversions: Jone Naqica (3)
Olympic Club
Tries: Kevin Herrera, Chris Gurecki, Jon Kollerer, Kort Schubert
Conversions: Chris Gurecki (3)
Penalty goals: Chris Gurecki
Referee: Joe Androvich (Northern California)
Attendance: 250 (estimated)
Great charity event. Congratulations to both teams for the money raised for cancer research. Glad to see Cal guys on both teams. Scoring tries and kicking points for both teams. Coaching one of the teams. The ref's even a Cal guy.
Posted by: Go Bears! | 08 March 2010 at 08:28