San Diego State put in a solid performance in the California Conference Saturday with a 64-12 defeat of Sacramento State.

The rain in Southern California may have played havoc with training schedules, but it also served to make the rugby fields greener and softer, which was most welcome by the players.

Tim Pickwell photo.

Early on SD State scored off an eightman pick, and on the restart Sac State was penalized for hitting a player in the air, and that put them a man down thanks to a yellow card. Up a player now, the Aztecs kicked deep, took the lineout, spun it wide, and brought it back, and put Johnny Abdulahad over for the try.

With the conversion from center Harrison Barkham, SD State led 14-0. Soon it was 21-0 and a break from Jacob Zinda set up lock Patrick Walls, and Barkham hit his third conversion. The Aztecs got a blow then when young flanker Chase Pickwell was injured after he took the restart. However, the Aztecs continued to roll. Prop Gil Covery powred through the Sac State defense and set up his teammates on several occasions. In one instance, he offloaded to Zinda, who finished it off. Once again Barkahm was good with the conversion and the 28-0 lead.

With the Aztecs in control, Sac State had to find some semblance of reliable possession. But they couldn't, as SD State's forwards powered through a scrum and stole the ball, and scrmhalf Esmat Wardak snagged the ball and zipped over. Barkham, of course, was good with the kick to make it 35-0.

Sac State finally did get some good possession and came close to scoring, but the runner, with no support, was forced to hold onto the ball and commit a penalty.

SD State rebounded with a try from Ari Flink, and while th Hornets had a few moments, they could not score.

In the second half, prop Tyler Tapa started to put the Aztecs under pressure, but Covery, who often slots in at scrumhalf despite being a prop, showed plenty of mobility and agility.

In the second half, Sac State started to show some better cohesion, and put SD State under some pressure. But it was still slow going. SD State scored to make it 40-0, before the Hornets scored their first try. SD State replied with a try, and then Sac State scored their second. Three more tries from San Diego State, including Flink's second, finished it off.

This was San Diego State's first conference game in the California Conference, so the Aztecs go to 1-0. Sac State drops to 0-2.