With a 10-5 win over the Durabos, Live Oak rugby earns spot in
championship game
On Saturday, March 18, The Live Oak Rugby Club traveled to San Jose to play 2-time defending Skyhawk Conference Champion Silicon Valley Durabos. The match featured the only two undefeated teams left in the conference play and the winner would be awarded one of the two slots in the Skyhawk Conference Championship game to be played on April 8.
The Acorns defeated the defending conference champs, 10-5, securing their spot in the conference championship game.
Silicon Valley came out strong and forced the visiting Acorns to play inside their own defensive end for nearly the first 10 minutes of the game. The Durabos used their large forward pack to continually pound the ball at their smaller counterparts from Live Oak. But for the third consecutive week, the Acorn forwards were up to the challenge and time and time again would turn back or stuff the Silicon Valley ball carriers. Slowly, possession and field position would begin to favor Live Oak. At the 20 minute mark, Live Oak had The Durabos pinned near their own try line. After several minutes of intense pressure from the Acorns, Silicon Valley’s defense cracked. Jimmy VanLandingham (Sr., flanker) exploited an overlap and touched down for the game’s first score. The conversion was missed and the first half would end with Live Oak ahead, 5-0.
Live Oak came out stronger in the second half but failed to convert several scoring opportunities. For their part, Silicon Valley did show why they are the defending league champions. They used a strategic kicking game to keep Live Oak from gaining valuable field position and their swift back line was able to effectively counter-attack on several occasions. However, more often than not, in a close game, the team with the stronger forward pack generally comes out on top. The Acorn forwards would prove themselves again, dominating in scrums and holding their own in lineouts. At the 57 minute mark, Live Oak again had Silicon Valley pinned near its own try line for several long minutes. From another 5 meter scrum, Live Oak, as they had several times during the game, would steal the Durabos’ scrum feed. Erik Cifuentes (Sr. 8 man) picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and quickly, going weak side, burst through the Silicon Valley defense for Live Oak’s second try. The conversion was missed, but Live Oak had a solid 10-0 lead with 10 minutes to play. Silicon Valley did mount one more attack, and would eventually touch down for a try in the closing minutes of the game to bring the score to 10-5. But it was not enough and Live Oak came out on the high end of a very competitive game. Although their play seemed uninspired for most of the game, Live Oak improved their record to 12-1 overall and 5-0 in league play. They also earned a spot in the Skyhawk Conference Championship game on April 8.
Live Oak closes out league play next week at home against Peninsula Green, a team they have never beaten. Game time will be determined later.
