In a Skyhawk Conference rugby game with major postseason
implications on the line, the Peninsula Green Beavers edged the
Live Oak Acorns 17-5 Saturday in Morgan Hill
MORGAN HILL — In a Skyhawk Conference rugby game with major postseason implications on the line, the Peninsula Green Beavers edged the Live Oak Acorns 17-5 Saturday in Morgan Hill.
The Beavers clinched a playoff spot at the Acorns’ expense.
Live Oak scored first when scrum half Nick Ferguson caught Peninsula Green off guard after a Beaver was called for a penalty inside the 22-meter zone. Ferguson, a senior, touched down a try at the 10-minute mark, but the conversion was no good. Peninsula Green knotted the score, 5-5, with an unconverted try five minutes later.
Both teams stiffened defensively until the Beavers found a crease in the Acorns’ defense — just as time expired in the first half. Peninsula Green scored a converted try to go ahead 12-5 at the break.
The second half saw spirited play by both teams. They took turns pressuring the other’s goal line, but were denied any points until the 60th minute.
Peninsula Green exploited an overlap inside the Acorns’ 22-meter zone and touched down an unconverted try in the corner. The conversion sailed wide, but the Beavers held a 12-point advantage, 17-5, that withstood the final 10 minutes.
Playing well and anchoring a rock-solid scrum for Live Oak in the losing effort were junior props Thomas Mangano and Erik Poulsen.
The Acorns will close out conference play at 11 a.m. Saturday against East Palo Alto at Live Oak High School.
