Two second half scores by Vacaville are too much for Live Oak to
overcome
Morgan Hill – Live Oak High School was the site for a first round game in the 2006 Nor Cal Rugby Championships. Live Oak, champions of the Skyhawk Rugby Conference took on Sacramento Valley Conference runner-up Vacaville Black Dogs in the first varsity match between the two rugby programs. Vacaville topped Live Oak, 12-7, to advance in playoffs.
Live Oak, playing with a slight breeze at its back, kicked off to Vacaville and immediately regained possession in the Black Dogs territory. After both teams misplayed several balls, Live Oak still held a territorial advantage. At the seven minute mark, Dustin Muhn (Sr., fullback) lofted a high kick that was poorly handled by Vacaville’s fullback. Muhn was able to corral the Black Dog fullback deep in his own territory and forced him out of bounds at the five meter line. Live Oak won the resulting line out as well as the ensuing ruck and a quick whistle by referee Rich Anderson earned the Acorns a five meter scrum. Live Oak’s forward pack, led by Chris Rockwell (Sr., prop) won the scrum and Mark Pimentel (Sr., 8-man) picked up at the base of the scrum and bulled his way over the try line. Erik Cifuentes (Sr., lock) made the conversion and the Acorns had an early 7-0 lead.
The rest of the first half was a back-and-forth affair with both teams pressuring each other. Live Oak was hurt on several Vacaville scrum possessions with blind side moves from an 8-man pick up. The larger Black Dog forwards continually pounded at the Acorn in an attempt to wear down the newly crowned Skyhawk Champions. With 5 minutes to play in the first half, Vacaville had The Acorns under heavy pressure inside the Live Oak 10 meter line. After several scrums and some poor ball handling by Live Oak, a maul had formed near the left side line. Almost magically, the ball came out and a speeding Muhn was racing down the side line heading for another Acorn try. But great cover defense by Vacaville’s outside center forced Muhn out of bounds at the five meter line. The Black Dogs organized another attack just before halftime but were repulsed by the Live Oak defense and the Acorns went into the break leading 7-0.
As the second half began, Vacaville’s determination began to show. Now playing with the wind in their backs, the Black Dogs changed tactics. After some halftime adjustments by Live Oak to counter Vacaville’s blind side scrum moves, the Black Dogs were unable to effectively run through or around the Live Oak defense. Vacaville began to rely on the foot of their Stand-off to kick over the top. The tactic worked and slowly, the territorial advantage began to favor the visitors. After several minutes of heavy pressure inside the Acorn 22 meter line, Vacaville had an overlap on the right. A few quick passes and the Black Dog fullback found himself in the try zone. The conversion was good and the game was knotted at 7-7 with 15 minutes to play. Over the next five minutes, the momentum began to swing back in the Acorn rugger’s favor. This time, it was Vacaville who found themselves under intense pressure near their own try line. After a lineout and several scrums, Live Oak was still pressuring the Black Dog defense. But Vacaville was up to the task and the Acorn attack was finally repulsed when the ball was kicked to touch following a Live Oak penalty. Vacaville mounted another attack sequence. Finally, after several scrums inside the Live Oak 10 meter line and after charging down two Acorn kicks, the Black Dogs cracked the Acorn line and scored what would be the winning try with four minutes to play. The conversion was missed but Vacaville had a 12-7 advantage that would hold up over the final minutes of play.
Vacaville now moves on to the Nor Cal Semifinals and plays the winner of the Elsie Allen / Hayward contest next weekend. Live Oak’s quest for a Nor Cal championship is over.
The Acorns will bring their 14-2 record to the second Annual Pacific Coast Territory Invitational Tournament to be held at Stanford University’s Steuber Rugby Stadium on May 13 and 14.
