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Author: Lief
Date submitted: March 13, 2002

Despite a convincing victory over the Huskers in January, San Luis Obispo was unable to make it a double in Bakersfield on Saturday.

There was a lot riding on the outcome of the game, with the executioner’s axe looming over the heads of both teams – both are in a group of teams threatened with relegation to third division next season. Kern was more desperate from the start, and played like they had everything to lose. Before a sweat was even broken, they had scored a converted try through some dominating forwards play. The try was scored from a quick tap penalty play, as SLO were caught napping. This is a problem San Luis has had all season, which was made all the more obvious as an entirely new front-row combination was being blooded. The boys snapped out of their shellshock, and shortly after stand-in center Mark Cummins charged down a Kern kick, gathered and dashed 50 or 60 meters to score. The converted try tied the game.

Kern scored again, another play through their forwards, as SLO again did not respond to a quick tap penalty play. Most disappointing aspect of the Huskers’ tries was the lack of resistance put up by SLO. On both occasions the scorer was virtually untouched as he crossed the line, and that would later prove the difference in the game.

Fullback Lief McKay kicked a penalty goal to bring the halftime score to 14-10 in Kerns’ favour.

Kern was the first to score in the second half, making the mountain SLO now had to climb even higher. Our woes were exacerbated when we lost fly half Sean Leamy (torn calf) and winger Deron Brewer (broken nose) in the space of five minutes. Some inspirational play was needed, and provided by rookie props Troy Javadi and Mikeee McHugh. The San Luis scrum was stronger that it has been all year – remarkable considering the Kern pack boasts one Eagle prop, and numerous seasoned veterans. Both Javadi and McHugh turned up the heat on Kern, lighting up several unsuspecting opponents with bone-crunching tackles. In the subsequent backline reshuffle McKay moved to fly half, and began peppering the Kern backs with a succession of towering bombs into the setting sun. The tactic soon paid dividends, as McKay was able to gather his own kick and score under the posts and take SLO to within 4 points.

Tragedy struck immediately however, as the flimsiest of defense led to another Kern try. The circumstances were ironic, as SLO was deep in the Kern half and hoisted yet another rainmaker. Apparently San Luis chose this opportunity to take a break - the Kern fullback fielded the kick and counter-attacked, linking up with numerous players for a ninety metre try. The body language told the story. San Luis was shattered at such a devastating turnaround.

San Luis Obispo was able to muster one more encore, which was possibly the try of the day. Stand-in fullback Michael Doig beat a succession of defenders with elusive sidestepping, and just as he was being brought down he presented a miracle pass to center Sean Bouldan, who gathered beautifully on the bounce and beat three men to score.

Kern scored two late tries with the result already in the bag, and left SLO to ponder another one that got away. The win draws the struggling Huskers level with San Luis on the league standings and with two rounds remaining the pressure on both clubs to record a win is mounting exponentially.

Score: Kern County 42 defeated San Luis Obispo 24 (M Cummins try; S Bolduan try; L McKay try, 3 conversions, penalty)

MVP: Troy Javadi

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