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05 April 2008

Park City Haggis came together with a small group of core players to beat the Sacramento Lions at home 30-22.  The game featured the return of several Haggis players who have not been training regularly with the team.  Former team president Al Short returned as an impact sub, along with a boost of speed from Mike Morgan and Ryan Fletcher.  Molonai  Hola also started the game at #11.

Sacramento kept Haggis on their heels for most of the first half, maintaining possession and keeping play largely in the Haggis half of the field.  Efi Fekitoa touched down for the only Haggis score of the first half.  Haggis allowed three tries which led to a 22-5 deficit at halftime.

Second half brought a determined Haggis team on the pitch.  Settling down behind bruising forward play, the Haggis packed settled in a constant series of pick-and-goes that drew in the Lion defense.  Naki Angilau executed multiple crushing runs past the gainline, inspiring not only his teammates, but also won the admiration of Sacramento fans.  One vocal fan yelled, "I want to take you to Disneyland!" after Naki punched through for a try. 

The Haggis pack scored three tries in the second half, with prop Ra Sitake and flanker Ryan Dunyon also crossing the line.  Mike Morgan came up with a momentum building steal early in the second half.  Morgan dextrously pulled down a grubber kick by the attacking wing and fullback on the Haggis 22-meter line.  Morgan dashed forward as the stunned Lions ran right past him to where they expected the ball to bounce.  Haggis maintained majority control of the ball for the remainder of the half.

Ryan Fletcher came through with the kicking game, nailing a drop kick with 10 minutes remaining in the game to extend a two-point Haggis lead to 27-22.  A few minutes later he floated a 40-meter penalty between the uprights to put the game out of reach at 30-22.

Naki Angilau received Man of the Match honors for carrying the Haggis hopes into contact again and again.  Deferring praise to the other 17 teammates who made the trip Angilau stated, "I just play along with you guys.  You inspire me." 

Captain Joe Lomu expressed afterwards that, "We won because we played together.  I'm proud to have played with you today.  Thanks for everyone who made the trip, it took a lot of heart because everyone had written us off.  We're back." 

Molonia Hola challenged the Haggis to start at this point.  Training will definitely have a renewed intensity as we prepare for our CR#1 game April 19th.  The 18 players know they were part of something unique, and everyone belonged.  This is why we play rugby.

Haggis Lineup
1. Ra Sitake  2. Jeremy Johnson  3.  Johnny Nau  4. Mike Law  5. Nusi Tukuafu
6.  Nephi Angilau  7. Ryan Dunyon  8. Naki Angilau  9. Robert Lopez
10. Efi Fekitoa  11. Molonai Hola 12. Joe Lomu (C) 13. Soni Lolohea
14. Mike Morgan  15.  Ryan Fletcher
16. Matt Cowley 17. Alan Short 18. George the Hack



NorCal Standings