Americans Perry Baker and Lucas Lacamp scored four tries between them as the Kalinga Black Tigers ran away with an emphatic 33-5 win over the Mumbai Dreams in the Rugby Premier League – with Mumbai still chasing their first win of the inaugural RPL season.
While the Hyderabad Heroes and Chennai Bulls have already qualified for the semi-finals, the Black Tigers are still in the mix to make the final four, keeping their hopes alive with this dominant performance at Mumbai’s Andheri Sports Complex.
Baker has turned back the clock with some impressive performances in the RPL, scoring some vintage tries and generally matching it with some world-class players, and the HSBC SVNS Series star continued to shine bright against Mumbai.
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The three-time Olympian scored the opener late in the first quarter. RPL have adopted a different format for its sevens competition, with teams battling it out over four-minute quarters instead of the more familiar seven-minute halves approach.
Playmaker Maurice Longbottom took the ball to the line before throwing a draw-and-pass to Baker, who sliced through a gap in the Dreamers’ defensive line, before coming to a sudden halt near the dead ball line to remain in the field of play.
“He pins the ears back, puts on the accelerator, and there is Perry Baker at his best,” commentator Greg Clarke said on RugbyPass TV.
Can’t keep Perry away from the action 😉#GMRRPL2025 #RugRugMeinRugby #RPL pic.twitter.com/bkL2gQEHYU
— Rugby Premier League (@RPLIndia) June 24, 2025
Baker completed a double midway through the second period, before Ethan Turner extended the Black Tigers’ advantage to end the third. Elias Hancock got the Dreamers on the scoreboard to end the third, but it was one-way traffic in the final period – with one man stealing the show.
Lacamp crossed for a try in the first minute of the fourth quarter, before running in for another five-pointer to close out the contest. Australian Maurice Longbottom also contributed with three conversions, and former Ireland captain Harry McNulty registered a try assist.
That result improved Kalinga’s season record to 2-2-4, while Mumbai have lost seven and drawn one match during their eight fixtures to date. With two playoff spots already taken, there’s plenty on the line during the final three matchdays of the regular season.
Kalinga will take on Bengaluru Bravehearts next, who are on the brink of securing their spot in the semi-finals. New Zealand’s Akuila Rokolisoa and former All Blacks Sevens skipper Scott Curry are among those suiting up for a star-studded Bravehearts outfit.
It’s a tough run home for Kalinga, who will also take on second-placed Chennai to round out their regular season. Mumbai will take on Delhi Redz and then Hyderabad twice, searching for a drought-breaking win to end their season.
