Live Oak appeared to had taken a late lead, but a controversial
call erased the score, and visiting Silicon Valley came away with a
12-10 win Friday
MORGAN HILL — Playing in its final regular-season game, the club rugby team from Live Oak High School nearly picked up its first Skyhawk Conference win Friday in the Outdoor Sports Center.
The Acorns appeared to had taken a late lead — 15-12 — when Joe Guidry was awarded a try in the closing minutes. But a controversial call erased the score, and visiting Silicon Valley came away with a 12-10 win that left LOHS bitter going into the April 24-25 Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament.
With a strong wind at the Acorns’ backs, junior fullback Andrew Pitzer gave the local team its first lead in five games when he scored on a kick-and-chase play six minutes in. The conversion attempt was failed.
Back-and-forth play continued for the next 15 minutes with both teams penetrating the opposing team’s defense only to come away empty-handed. At the 23-minute mark, Silicon Valley’s outside center exploited a gap in Live Oak’s defense and outraced defenders to touch down the equalizing try in the corner. An unsuccessful conversion attempt left the score tied, 5-5.
Live Oak dialed up its play on the ensuing kick, applying continuous offensive pressure. Thomas Mangano, a senior captain and 8-man, touched down just outside of the goal posts to push the Acorns back in front.
Live Oak was deep in Silicon Valley territory again with time winding down in the first half but miscued on a line-out play, leaving the score 10-5 at halftime in favor of the home team.
Playing into the wind in the second half, the Acorns were unable to mount any serious attacks or maintain pressure offensively. Luckily, neither could Silicon Valley.
Because of several injuries inflicted by Live Oak’s physical play, Silicon Valley couldn’t field front-row players. Scrums, the Acorns’ strong point, became uncontested — but that hurt Live Oak’s chances of making steals.
With five minutes remaining, Silicon Valley once again found a crack in the Acorns’ defense and touched down a try between the posts. The nail-biting conversion was good, and the visiting team went ahead 12-10.
Live Oak quickly retook possession, and senior center Justin Santos burst through a gap and got behind the Silicon Valley defense. He was stopped with good cover defense, but LOHS won the ensuring ruck, setting up a quick outlet pass to Guidry. The senior stand-off kicked ahead and behind the disorganized Silicon Valley defense, won the ensuing chase down and was awarded a try by the referee. However, in an unprecedented move, the referee took the try away after the touch judge declared that Acorns prop Erik Poulsen had committed a dangerous play at the previous ruck, which occurred away from play that led to Guidry’s score. Silicon Valley maintained its two-point lead with less than two minutes left.
Live Oak was able to again win possession and, with no time remaining, opted to try a penalty kick after a Silicon Valley player had infringed offside at a break down. But Pitzer’s kick from 20 meters out was off the mark, and Live Oak was dealt a heart-breaking defeat.
Live Oak can make amends at the Pacific Coast Invite held at San Jose State, where the Acorns reached the Bronze Division championship game a year ago.
