(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

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

From top ranking to bottom we have the Midway’s Soldier Hollow ranked at No. 11, Monticello’s Hideout is ranked No. 22, St, George’s Sunbrook is No. 25 and Wingpointe in Salt Lake City is ranked No. 37.

Utah joins California and Arizona as the only states with four or more cources on the top 50 munies ranked by Golfweek.

It is a testament to the domination occurring in our 4-5 state area as far as golf goes.

When you can be mentioned in the same breath as Bethpage Black, Chambers Bay and Torrey Pines and a number of others public golf courses who have hosted PGA Tour events, that really says a lot!

Everyone who make this possible…take a bow.

Great Job!

ST. GEORGE – Trent Nelson’s RBI single in the fifth inning to bring home Chace Harmon was significant in one aspect.

SALT LAKE CITY – High school girls golf is still new to the state of Utah. In just its second year of existence, many programs are still trying to build a solid foundation.

The Dixie Flyers are not part of that group. Heading into Wednesday’s 4A state championship at Glendale Golf Course, they looked to make history.

For the second straight year, although not easy, Dixie (241 team score) secured its second consecutive state championship after fending off Murray in two playoff holes.

“It’s so amazing to go back-to-back (state champions),” Dixie senior Kelsey Vines said. “We’ve established a winning tradition.”

Vines has been the face of the program over the last two years. She not only brings talent to the table, but a strong character and professional demeanor that any successful team needs.

Dixie coach Eron Deming said the senior pushes her teammates to be better. Not because Vines demands it – it’s her teammates that don’t want to let the captain down.

Vines – who’s set to play at BYU next season – finished with a six-under par 66 to win medalist honors, Murray’s Annika Afoa secured second after finishing four shots back. Vines said it was sweet redemption for last season’s fourth-place individual finish.

“I started off really bad. I hit into the water on the first hole and finished with a bogey. But I calmed down and finished good on the front nine (-3) and the back nine (-3),” said Vines who finished the tournament with seven birdies. “The one thing challenging about Glendale is the yardage. It’s a lot shorter than what we’re used to playing.”

It was only fitting the state’s top two players squared off to give their respective teams a chance at the state title. Vines and Afoa went shot for shot during playoff holes No. 10 and No. 11, ultimately putting the outcome into their teammates’ hands. In the end, Dixie’s Nicole Thomas (earning all-state honors with a 78), Aubry Smith and Kayla Popovich proved too much for Murray’s Measha Meier, Candace Prestwich, and Jamie Bills. Spectrum 5/16/09

Being a Dixie State alumnus I enjoy seeing Dixie State doing a great job in sports.

For the first time in school history Dixie State fielded two futball teams for inter-collegiate competition in 2008. Dixie State officially debuted its men’s soccer program, the first and only NCAA-sponsored program in Utah, this past season, and under head coach Danny Ortiz Dixie State played to a 5-15-1 record in his first year, including three shutout victories.

Dixie State College women’s soccer posted another solid season as Dixie played to a 13-6-1 overall record, including a 9-3-0. PackWest mark, and at one eight of its last 10 matches to close out the season.

Dixie State College, long-time football coach and basketball coach Gordon Jolly was inducted into the Utah Hall of Fame.

The Utah Sports Hall of Fame had a dinner at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, for all inductees.

Jolly, who was inducted into the sports of football, spent 21 years on the Dixie State sidelines as an offensive coach and coordinator. In addition, he has served as Dixie State baseball coach for 10 years and had also taught physical education along with mathematics, as his main duties.

Jolly was a three sport all-state performer at Salt Lake City’s, Granite High School and was an all-conference offense linemen at the University of Utah. He parlayed his collegiate success into six years in the NFL, playing for the Detroit Lions who drafted him in the 17th round in 1971 as well as the Seattle Seahawks.