Utah Valley Wins Utah Division II Championship

Posted by admin in News      1 comment

Mar
20

The Utah Valley University Men’s Rugby team beat Idaho State University 29-22 to win the 2011 Utah Rugby Union Division II Championship on Saturday afternoon in Boise, Idaho.

In a back and forth game, both teams were able to score 4 tries, but Utah Valley were able to kick their way to victory and secure their third title in the last four years. Though not as convincing as the previous days effort, the UV team were still thrilled with the victory and the opportunity to host the Pacific Coast Playoffs in the next round of the National Collegiate Playoffs.

Utah Valley started the game much the same as the had the day before against Boise State, perhaps a little nervous about the game ahead and it opened the door for Idaho State to make an impression on the match early. But as the side began to settle into the match, they began to control the breakdown and the match.

Ball retention had proved to be the key for Utah Valley’s attacking prowess in previous matches and the job done to secure the rucks by a very mobile UV forward pack was soon paying dividends. After controlling possession for 8 phases in the Idaho State 22, fly half Malakai Tuakimoana spotted a gap to the right side and was able to take the ball off the back of the ruck and sneak over for the try. A Joe Carnation conversion made it a 7-0 lead.

But the Idaho State team were not willing to back down from a challenge and struck back with a try of their own within 5 minutes. A slick backline move just outside Utah Valley’s 22 put their outside center into space and he then proceeded to make 4 would be tacklers miss in strolling down the right hand touchline for the try. An unsuccessful conversion kept UVU in the lead by two.

This sparked the Wolverine side to life again. Not content to play in their own half, the Utah Valley side began to move the ball downfield and committed defense and sustained pressure at the rucks brought more possession at the right end of the field for UVU. Controlling their own lineout ball, the Utah Valley forwards tried to rumble the ball to the line from about 12 meters out. After getting close to the line several times and being held out by some stout Idaho State defense, Tuakimoana stepped in to pick off the back of the ruck and found more space on the fringes to score his second of the match. With the conversion, UVU were out to a 14-5 lead.

Utah Valley began to secure more possession and more territory and were able to keep the pressure on ISU. After two missed penalty attempts from UVU, another long drive, this one 12 phases, found lock Trevor Matthews on the receiving end of a short pop pass and another try for Utah Valley. The conversion was missed and the scored remained 19-5 at half time.

However the drinks and oranges didn’t seem too beneficial to the Utah Valley boys as the Idaho State side came out and began to get into their own groove and score the next two tries. A well placed touch finder moved ISU deep into UV territory and a lineout steal gave the back-line enough time to get it to their number 13 to crash over for a double. Their third try of the day was much the same, quick ball through the back-line found the fullback inserting and beating the defense on the outside to score. The conversion attempt was good and all of a sudden it was a two point game again, 19-17.

The game got a bit hectic at that point as both sides realized the game was there for the taking. ISU was content to kick the ball deep and make the Wolverines play in their own end of the field. UVU were able to retain for 7 or 8 phases and advance the ball before handling errors would let them down. The turning point of the match came with 15 minutes left when a penalty to UVU was marched forward 10 meters after and Idaho State player talked back to the ref. Kicker Joe Carnations penalty attempt from about 37 meters out sailed wide to the left, but was knocked on in goal by an ISU player. Utah Valley managed to secure their own ball from the ensuing 5 meter scrum and two phases later lock Loren Willes crashed over for the teams’ fourth try. Carnation was able to shake off his miss from moments earlier and slot a difficult conversion from 5 inside the left touchline and put Utah Valley ahead, 26-17.

Idaho State were not finished though, another great kick finding touch inside the Utah Valley 5 meter line. Messy ball off the top by the UV forwards opened the door for the Idaho State hooker to pounce through from the front of the lineout and dive on the loose ball for the try. Another missed conversion left the score at 26-22 with 5 minutes remaining.

Utah Valley were able to secure the ball after some committed work on defense along the left touchline and continued up the field until they were awarded another penalty. Carnation, after having his ups and downs throughout the weekend, coolly steeped up and slotted the 35 meter penalty and sealed the victory for Utah Valley.

The team now looks ahead to the first weekend of April when they will host the Pacific Coast Playoffs at their home field in Orem, Utah. Utah Valley’s first game will come against Sierra College after they secured the second seeding from the Northern California division for the tournament. The first seed from Northern California, Cal Maritime, will face the winner of the Pacific Northwest Union playoffs in the semi-final. The winners of each of those respective matches will both earn a place in the National Collegiate Playoffs round of 16 and will playoff to finalize seeding’s and determine the Pacific Coast Rugby Union Division II Champion.