cudas downed 26-58 in cooney-calverley cup
a close first half saw san diego and the mongrel go into the break just one score apart, but fatigue allowed la to finish the job.
A new look Barracudas featuring 10 debutants in the match-day 20-man squad lined up at Cal. State University Long Beach (CSULB) to take on the Mongrel from LA as a part of a full cross-code day of rugby on December 10.
The first half proved a tense and back-and-forth affair, and it was the Cudas who found the initial breakthrough and opened the scoring after 6 minutes. Strong carries from the San Diego forwards - newcomer Scott Beaumont in particular setting the platform for what would be an impressive debut - experienced hooker Robert Tanielu Jr. bounced away from would-be Mongrel tacklers and grounded under the posts from 10 meters out. Australian-born half back Corey Morris added the extra 2, and the score was 6-0 Cudas.
However, the Barracudas were unable to back up their score on the next set, with an unforced offload error handing field position to LA and allowing Emiliano Nash to cross for a try. Seth Cooney converted to level the game at 6-6.
By the 15 minute mark the Mongrel were ahead, when rangy runner Scott Mitchell got an arm free to offload to dangerous full back Alex Nolasco, who scored between the sticks. Cooney was again on target to stretch the score to 6-12.
This San Diego side was not to be put away quite so easily, and responded with the score of the match. On last tackle, having made it to around the half-way line, live-wire Morris produced a sublime chip over the top before regathering his own kick on the bounce and feeding center Zy Adams to race away and score wide out on the right. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Barracudas were deservedly holding their own at 10-12 with a quarter of the game gone. The San Diego outside backs led by exciting winger Malik Higgins were making good meters, exploiting their speed to give the Cudas a platform.
The tightness of the match was illustrated on 24 minutes, when LA elected to kick at goal from a penalty 30 meters out after the Cudas were punished for holding down too long. Cooney was once again on target, making it 10-14 to the Mongrel. The next 10 minutes were scrappy from both sides, with evidence of quality mixed in with understandable rustiness after over a year between games for both sides. It was Los Angeles who managed to break the deadlock through a moment of individual magic from the lively Cooney, sidestepping past a tiring San Diego defense to score and then convert his own try. The score was 10-20 Mongrel.
The Barracudas however rallied once again. On last tackle, player-coach Ben C Calverley spotted a gap in the Mongrel defense from 10 out, and fed the ever-reliable Tanielu Jr. to cross for his second try of the game a minute before half time. Calverley added the extras, and the sides went into half-time with the score at 16-20 in favor of the LA outfit.
The second half got off to the worst-possible start for Eli Welsh’s men, when poor numbering in defense on the first set allowed a break, eventually stopped by excellent scramble defense from Adams. Two tackles later though, the Barracudas were unable to stop a big carry from Maze Maselino Masoe close to the line and he was able to score on 42 mins, Cooney again on target to take the score to 16-26. Eight minutes later, another Mongrel half-break led to the Cudas again being penalized for holding down to buy time, and once again the penalty was within range of Cooney who gave LA a two score cushion at 16-28. A poor ten minutes for the Cudas was rounded off when a break down the San Diego right edge gave LA good field position, and allowed Jose Martinez to dive over from close range. Cooney, as accurate as ever, kicked the goal to give a 16-34 scoreline.
At last the Barracudas were stung into a response, and found reserves of energy. Pressure in the LA half on 56 minutes forced an error, and from the resulting set a dummy and step from Morris from 10 meters out gave him the first try of his San Diego career. He successfully converted his own try to bring the score back to 22-34.
Morris’ score was unfortunately followed by another blitz from LA, as fatigue began to show in the San Diego ranks. Three tries in less than ten minutes, including two from Donnie Duncan Jr. and all goaled by Cooney, made it 22-52 and effectively killed off the game as a contest.
Credit should go to the resilience of the Cudas though, as they showed fight to exert pressure back on the Mongrel men. An unorthodox kick-off from Calverley allowed the impressive Higgins to race onto the ball and make 30 meters, bringing the Cudas within 15 meters of the try line. San Diego had repeat sets from successive penalties, but the Cudas were unable to take advantage of powerful Mongrel defence and eventually overplay led to a turnover. Higgins was not to be denied though. On an exit set, with five minutes on the clock, full back Arrie Love fed a looping wide ball to Higgins, and the speedster outstripped the covering Cooney and sprinted 70 meters to score. Morris was unlucky to see his conversion attempt rebound off the upright, and the score was 26-52.
Morris’ intelligence and skill was once again on show in the last minute through another lovely chip and chase, and the number 7 was a threat all game on debut. However the kick was eventually regathered by Duncan Jr., and the next play the Mongrel went over for a final try on the hooter, as always converted by Cooney. The final score was 26-58.
The full game can be watched on the PCRL YouTube channel.
final score: barracudas 26-58 mongrel
Tries: Tanielu Jr. (2), Adams, Morris, Higgins
Conversions: Morris (2/4), Calverley (1/1)
Cudas MVP: Malik Higgins