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Author: Lief
Date submitted: January 27, 2004

A passionate Pasadena side made life tougher than expected for the San Luis Obispo XV on Saturday at Alhambra High School. Although SLO came away with a hard fought win, they drove home with lots to think about – it was the game they should have won, and nearly didn’t.

In a carbon copy of last years fiery encounter, the Pasadena forwards unleashed everything they had on a flat SLO side, and stung them with an early try to their Number 8. San Luis drove deep into the opposition half from the ensuing kickoff, as the backline were able to complete a sweeping move for fullback Tyler Reese to cross in the corner.

True to the see-sawing nature of the game that was rapidly developing, it was Pasadena’s turn to go on the offensive. Following a series of penalties against San Luis, they relentlessly hammered away at a resolute SLO defensive line. It proved to be a defining moment of the half, as San Luis held solid for 12 phases within 10 meters of the line before Pasadena spilled the ball to release the pressure valve. The teams went to the half locked at 5-5.

Spirits were high in the San Luis camp as they took the field for the second stanza with a slight breeze at their backs, but this half was to be as dour as the first. Many attacking raids from both teams were shut down before they began due to stifling defense. Fly-half Lief McKay converted an early penalty to give the visitors the lead for the first time, but it wasn’t until midway through the half, when Paul Cappellano, deputizing admirably at scrum half for the injured Nick Filice, broke the deadlock and changed the momentum of the game for the first time in SLO’s favor. A scrappy interchange between the Pasadena forwards resulted in a knock-on, and the ubiquitous Cappellano was there to pick up the crumbs for a five pointer. Moments later, again deep in Pasandena’s half after a much needed penalty, McKay cleaned up a loose ball behind an attacking ruck, and slotted a 30 meter field goal to give SLO some breathing room.

The Pasadena coaching staff needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat with time fast running out, and for a moment it seemed like they had – in the shape of a ‘super-sub’, playing first on the wing, and then at fly-half. The superb ball-runner made several devastating, bullocking charges, and was finally rewarded with a try to narrow SLO’s lead to just 4 points. San Luis survived several tense minutes as time ran out with Pasadena again on the attack deep in opposition territory.

Based on their performance, Pasadena will surprise several teams this season, and are a dark-horse for the playoffs at this early stage of the season. San Luis improved their record to 2-0. Their next hit-out is a rematch against the O.C. Bucks in two weeks time.

San Luis Obispo 16 (T Reese, P Cappellano: tries; L McKay: penalty, drop goal) defeated Pasadena 12

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