SFGG Claim Inaugural Elite Cup

San Francisco Golden Gate claimed the inaugural Elite Cup with a 31-26 win over Life in front of a decent sized crowd in Glendale, Colorado. SFGG had torn through the regular season and they looked to be the better side early on as they continually put Life under pressure. Within the first ten minutes of the match SFGG's pressure caused Life to commit penalties, but rather than going for the posts SFGG opted to go for the lineout every time. The first time they made that decision it backfired allowing Life to recover and send the ball out. But later on, the choice was rewarded with a great team try capped off by Mile Pulu. Volney Rouse's conversion but SFGG up 7-0. But in the back and forth affair Life fought back. A few minutes later fly-half AJ MacGinty made a great run that split the SFGG defense. After gaining 30 meters he fed Tui Osborne who slipped a nice pass off the Benji Goff for a try in the corner. MacGinty hit the conversion to even the score.

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Still, SFGG had the bulk of the possession in the first half and did a good job of pinning Life back in their own end. SFGG would strike next as they slowly worked the ball down the field. They then sent the ball out to huge wing Jeff Colata who took on a few Life tacklers before feeding Heine McFarland for the try. Rouse's conversion was no good putting the score at 12-7 to SFGG with 25 minutes gone. SFGG nearly had another try a minute later but Neil Barrett was held up in the try zone. Life was able to subsequently clear.

With time winding down in the half Life, like SFGG, choose to go for the line out rather than take the points. Also like SFGG, the choice proved rewarding as Life set up a running maul that pushed SFGG back creating space for MacGinty to slide in for the try. However, MacGinty was unable to convert his own try, once again leaving a tie score.

In the second half SFGG came out the aggressors early and rewarded with a try from Bruce Thomas. He broke through the Life defense and backed himself for almost the entire length of the field. Rouse then missed his second conversion. SFGG 17-12 Life. SFGG kept the pressure on after the try and were rewarded with another fantastic try. Some great interplay and offloading from the SFGG let Tevita Okusi score his first try of the match and to increase the lead to 24-12.

But rather than letting SFGG run away with the match Life came back. Once again using their strong maul Benji Goff got his second try of the match. Tui Osborne then scored a fe minutes later to help Life take a 26-24 lead after MacGinty's conversion. Life were patient in their build-up on both plays going through phase after phase.

Still, it was SFGG's day. The San Franciscans continued to continually break the gainline and force Life on their backheels. That power running would allow Danny LaPrevotte to score an critical go ahead try with only seven minutes left.

Tom Katzfey won the restart for Life giving the Running Eagles some hope. They went through phase after phase but couldn't break down a stingy SFGG defense. SFGG looked to break at times but they continually came up with a big hit, including a hit that caused Life to knock on the ball with time expired. Final: SFGG 31-26 Life.

Life certainly had their chances in the match. They were the better team on set pieces, especially in the scrum where they manhandled SFGG. Their maul was a thing of beauty and served them well at times, but the overall strength and savvy of SFGG was too much. There is no better team in the country at gaining meters after the initial hit that SFGG and there is no better team at offloading. The SFGG backs were nearly unstoppable on offense but their defense is what made them really shine.

It was a well deserved championship with SFGG. They were easily the best team during the Elite Cup regular season and they dominated a difficult NorCal DI league. They have a solid organization with a good first time, a great D3 team, and an excellent youth structure. That whole system paid dividends today.  Congrats to SFGG.