The University of Utah traveled to West Point where they edged Army 32-26 in the first round of the College Premier League playoffs.

This win puts the Utes back to the Final 4.  Utah will be playing against Cal Berkeley this Saturday in Glendale, Colorado at 6:00 p.m.  Mountain Time.  Both of the  semis (6:00 pm and 8:00 pm MT on Saturday, May 14)will be televised live on www.ESPN3.com and via tape delay on ESPNU.  If you haven’t seen the Utes play this year, this will be a great opportunity to see them square off against one of the best in the country.

UTAH RUGBY UPDATE

(April 11, 2011) by Hugh Brown

UTES DOWN COLORADO 50-22

Utah’s match versus Colorado this past weekend almost was not played due to the terrible weather in Salt Lake City.  Eventually it was moved from McCarthy Field (covered by snow) to the Murray Stadium.  Played in wet freezing rain, the Utes played a good first half and pounded their way to a 50-22 victory.  As had been the case in the past, a Utah mistake set up a Colorado try just three minutes into the contest and the visitors led 5-0 to start the match. The Utes would go on to dominate the remainder of the first half, however.  Utah’s forwards put pressure on the Buffaloes scrum and Tonata Lauti fell on a loose ball in the end zone, then converted, to take a 7-5 lead.  Mike Kimball scored a try at the seventeen minute mark after some nice passes and five minutes later Cameron Loser scored another with Lauti converting.  Toward the end of the half the ball was swung wide and Kave Lauti juked his way across the try line to make it Utah 26, Colorado 5 at intermission.

A.J. Tuineau opened the second half for the Utes with a try from his wing position and Loser scored his second try (converted) to up the lead to 38-5. After the Buffaloes scored a try, Bryce Jenkins stole a ball and offloaded to Chance Fivas who scored a try down the sidelines.  Colorado never gave up, scoring two more tries, before Shon Curtis (who was making his first start at prop) put in the Utes’ final try, also converted by Tonata Lauti.  Coach Blake Burdette said the terrible weather resulted in a number of handling errors and slipped tackles, but felt good about the win.

UTES HOST AIR FORCE 3:00 SATURDAY

The Air Force Academy rugby team is disciplined and incredibly fit, but they were not considered a contender for the CPL playoffs at the start of the year as a result of a poor fall.  That has changed as the Zoomies have played well this spring.  Air Force is 3-1 (tied with Utah in the CPL West) with victories over Wyoming 52-0, Colorado 36-15, and Colorado State 46-10 (along with a trouncing at the hands of BYU).  This coming Saturday they invade Salt Lake City.  The match has been moved to a 3:00 start on the Ute Soccer Field.  Utah’s seniors will be honored before the match.

UTAH WARRIORS EDGED IN THE SNOW

The Utah Warriors played their match against Old Puget Sound Beach on an inch of snow and a gusting wind on Saturday in Salt Lake City.  The weather conditions kept the Utah backs in check and OPSB kept most of their play in the forward pack.  Puget Sound led 13-10 at the half and then upped the lead to 18-10 before the Warriors scored a converted try at the end of the match to make it close.  OPSB 18, Utah Warriors 17.  These two teams are fighting for second place in the West Conference as San Francisco Golden Gate swamped the Denver Barbarians 52-24.  The Warriors will host San Francisco this Saturday in at 4:00 pm match.

UTAH H.S./U19

The two top U19 rugby teams in the United States met two weekends ago and Highland defeated United 34-15.  The loss dropped United to number three in the April 7 U19 rankings as California’s Belmont Shore slipped into the second position. United had tied number Red Mountain, ranked 9^th out of Arizona, in an earlier match.  Snow Canyon is currently 15^th in the high school rankings.  Reported scores this past weekend:  Desert Hills 32, Las Vegas Aces 3; West Side Warriors 52, Dixie HS 12.

NORTHSIDE TOPS STEELERS

The Northside Tigers handed Provo an 18-15 loss two weekends ago.  It was the Steelers’ first loss to a Utah team in two years.  Provo still leads Utah Division I club play and were to play this past weekend, but no score has been reported.

CPL RUGBY SCORES

The big match of the week, played on Sunday, was California against St. Mary’s.  Both teams were undefeated in CPL play. Cal entered the match 21-0 while St. Mary’s was 10-1 (having split its two games with the University of British Columbia).  The Golden Bears of Berkeley prevailed, but in an exciting and match: Cal 60, St. Mary’s 34.

West:  BYU 70, Arizona 12; Arizona State 29, Wyoming 0; Air Force 46, Colorado State 10.  Pacific:  UCLA 24, Claremont 10; San Diego State 45, Cal Poly 19.  East: Army 40, Delaware 13; Dartmouth 34, Rutgers 31; Navy 24, Kutztown 20; Penn State 22, Ohio State 17.  Mid-South: Arkansas State 70, Tennessee 23; Life 55, Notre Dame 3; LSU 39, Oklahoma 5.

CPL West Standings

TOP EAST CPL – Army & Navy (4-0 20)

TOP MIDSOUTH CPL – Arkansas State (4-0 20); Life (4-1 20)

TOP PACIFIC CPL – Cal (5-0 25); St. Mary’s (4-1 20)

CPL Rankings (Apr 11 – Only college matches are included in the won-lost records)

UTES’ 2011 SPRING SCHEDULE (9-2)

Bolded teams are College Premier League matches

Rugby! Let the rucking begin! Local Snow Canyon Warriors #6 will play United ranked #1 after last year National Championship games held in the Rio Tinto Stadium* in Salt Lake City, Utah. Game at today 1/29/2011 @ 2:00pm at the Snow Canyon practice field behind the baseball diamonds.

* Home of the 2010 National Champion Soccer Team “Real”!

Virginia Cardinal Nick Viselli sprinting in for the first try in the Aspen over 55’s Final against the Colorado Old Boys. The Virginia team also won the over 45’s division.

The Virginia Cardinals were able to secure championships in 2 of the 3 divisions they entered this year, with the over 45’s and 55’s leaving with Finals victories.  Their 50’s played well, but were stymied in the Finals by Boulder, Co.

With the 45’s team losing some key players during the grueling 3 previous games on Thursday (a couple of them were former University of Utah and Haggis players),  the Finals match against the Barbarians was a defensive battle.  The Cardinals were able to break from the 0-0 tie just before halftime to go up 3-0.  With both sides turning up the heat in the second half, some great scoring runs gave the Cards the 22-10 victory.

The 55’s match was no less exciting, with athletic play and some terrific passing that only the experienced players can provide.  The first 15 minutes was a slugfest until Viselli landed the solid punch, picking up a dropped ball from the Colorado scrum half and dashing around the forwards down the sideline for the score.  With conversion good, the 7-0 score was just the start.  At 22-0 late in the 2^nd half, the Colorado scrum began to use their size, winning and keeping the ball down the field for two scores.  The last few minutes was intense, as the Cards hung on for the 22-14 victory—and the first Finals Championship in that division for the always competitive Virginia Cardinals.

So, YES, there is Rugby Life after High School—and after college—and after club—and even after Old Boys, which is usually over 35 years and older.  Many Tournaments have added the older divisions because so many rugby athletes are staying fit and playing into their 50’s and 60’s.  The Pacific Northwest Master’s Tournament in Vancouver, B.C., the Can-Am Rugby Tournament in Saranac Lake, N.Y., the Ft. Lauderdale Ruggerfest, the Aspen Ruggerfest and others are even thinking of opening an over 60’s division, with all of the these tournaments having over 60’s games this year (but not an actual competitive division).