RUGBY: U.S. Super League week six round-up

The Chicago Lions have moved into second place in the East following a comprehensive win in week six of Super League.

Playing against Washington in the nation’s capitol, Chicago exerted pressure all day and scored twice towards the end of the game to run out 41-16 winners. The Lions racked up six tries to the opposition’s two to earn themselves a bonus point and skip ahead of Boston on the points table.

Washington’s Ron McCready said it was much the same again for his side, “Chicago outplayed us and were the better team on the day. We made too many mistakes and they took advantage of our mistakes.”

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, front-runners Life College traveled to beantown to tackle Boston in a top of the table clash. In a game of halves played in windy conditions, the reigning champs outlasted the homeside for a 16-7 victory. Both teams scored a converted try apiece, but Life coach Mel Smith said the strong winds dictated play. “We started slowly and crept to a 10-0 halftime lead, then Boston scored early in the second half. Play sea-sawed back and forth, but I thought there were some real positive aspects for us.”

Boston captain Bruce Earle noted that it was a defensive tussle, “We pressured them for 20 minutes in the second half with the wind at our backs, but we just couldn’t get in.”

In the big apple, the Kansas City Blues duked it out with Old Blue New York in a critical matchup for both teams. In the end though KC won the game 35-22 to keep alive their playoff hopes. The Blues’ four tries were scored by Derek Scott and Brad Hughes who each got a deuce, while kicker Doug Brown added the other 15 points.

Kansas City skipper Vince Pastorino said it was a physical game, “There were a lot of big hits. We knew we had our backs to the wall and that we had to be nasty. We minimized our kicking game and kept the ball in hand the whole game.”

Further down the eastern seaboard in Pennsylvania finally some good news for Philadelphia-Whitemarsh who scored their first win of the season edging out PAC 24-20. Playing in their home stadium for the first time this year, Philly crossed for three tries in a result that lifts them off the bottom of the points table.

Philadelphia’s Michael Badger said finally things went right, “Certainly better than they have to date. We played closer to our potential and the guys really stepped up.” PAC’s Tom Lyons added it was another case of losing at the death, “We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities and for the fourth time this year we gave up the lead.”

Over in the West, Dallas stayed in the playoff race with a 21-14 defeat of Denver. The altitude of the Rocky Mountains had little effect on the visiting Quins who notched three tries en route to their victory, while the Barbarians got a bonus point for keeping the losing margin within 7 points.

And in Seattle, Old Puget Sound Beach hosted San Francisco Golden Gate. SFGG scored four tries to two to run out victors by 36-16. San Francisco started strongly, but took their foot off the pedal in the second half. They won the game in the backs who were too big and too strong for OPSB.

Week 6 action wound up on Sunday with OMBAC taking on Old Blue-Griffens in Oakland. In a very physical contest, OMBAC scored the only try to win 19-9 and remain unbeaten on the season.

OMBAC forward Ryan ReBell scored the game’s solitary try in the first half, while fly-half Alistair Steele booted a conversion and four penalties for a personal haul of 14 points. Old Blue-Griffens were limited to three penalty goals. On a positive note for the Oakland team, it’s the only club besides Dallas to restrict the San Diegans to just one try in a match so far this season.

The result sees OMBAC increase its lead over Aspen at the top of the Western Conference points table.