Peninsula Green knocked off rivals SFGG in a Northern California DI game this weekend that helped cement PG’s position as one of the strongest teams in that division.

The game was very tight, and the high winds and cold, wet weather didn’t help.

From the start, the Beavers set the tenor of the game with physical defensive and offensive play. The forwards ran straight and hard, and the backs spread the ball nicely.

The first try for PG came at the 10th minute, when porp Soane Mafi picked up and dove over in the corner. The buildup was impressive, with the ball going through several pairs of hands, and Leilua Lualemaga making a big break also.  

After several Pen Green penalties which denied scoring opportunities, SFGG scored in the corner to knot the game. PG replied with a nicely-execute maul from a lineout five meters out. No. 8 Yoshi Warnock did the honors to make it 10-5. 

Yoshi Warnock surges through. Chris Warnock photo.

Just when it looked like Pen Green was going to break the game open, SFGG replied. Flyhalf Ronan Murphy caught a high box kick and scored.

As the conditions worsened, the Pen Green backs dropped several balls, and it seemed like the game would stay deadlocked.

Referee Bart Neilsen awarded a yellow card to Tavita Mailau for a dangerous tackle that was late and without a wrap, and then Michael Rowe was sin-binned for a high tackle right near the goal line. Referee Neilsen awarded SFGG a penalty try on tat play, and SFGG led 17-10 and were up by two players.

But somehow the Beavers weathered that storm. As the second half commenced the PG defense strengthened. And then Cutler Pons bulled over through three tacklers after a penalty tap by Naimia Foulau and a scamper by Tavite Lopeti. Bo Mailau then followed with another try after the ball went through hands and he executed a pick-and-go from the ruck. Mailau then added a penalty kick from 25 meters to make the score 23–17 for Peninsula Green. Yoshi Warnock added another try from a pick-and-go to make the final score 28–17.

This was a very hard fought game played under difficult conditions. Pen Green and SFGG both featured All Star players who have played together on NorCal All Star teams.  The fans witnessed a wide open game with Pen Green playing exciting and fluid running rugby.  At the man-of-the match post game meeting, the coaches from both sides complimented the other side for being well coached and well disciplined. Peninsula Green was especially complimented for being able to move the ball from sideline to sideline despite the wet conditions.

Cutler Pons scores. Chris Warnock photo.