Arizona State logged an impressive result over the weekend with a 34-24 defeat of San Diego State in a non-conference clash for the two teams.

The Sun Devils scored six tries, but had a tough day kicking, especially in the second half. SD State tested ASU a few times out wide.

containing SD State’s backline.

“I felt we shut their fringe play down pretty well,” said ASU Head Coach Gary Lane.

San Diego State scored first. But after that Arizona State spent the next five minutes or so in San Diego State’s 22, during which they missed a penalty attempts and were stymied on the goal line. Arizona State finally broke through with a smartly-taken tap penalty move, where Sun Devils flyhalf Alex Walsh looked to be preparing to kick for touch, but then tapped it and cut through an Aztec gap - flanker Bailey Stringer finished that off.

Some good pressure from the forwards and a nifty inside pass put ASU ahead, and neither team could score further in the first half, which ended 14-5.

In the second half, the Sun Devils scored quickly - Ryan Spiwak swooping down on an errant pass and racing 80 meters to touch down. Then the forwards bulled their way over to make it 20-5.

SD State got one back when fullback Ari Flink raced down the sideline. SD State’s defense held firm for a while, but another tap penalty move allowed Walsh to set up a try with a brilliant pass to the left wing.

The Aztecs scored after some concerted pressure and a lot of scrappy work from the forwards to make it 25-17, but Spiwak sealed things with an interception. SD State scored right at the end, but Arizona State held on.

Had Walsh remembered his kicking tee, the score might well have been bigger for Arizona State. As it was,, the Sun Devils looked the more consistent team.

Flanker Matt Brennan, and his partner in the #6 jersey, Stringer, were excellent for ASU. Matt Gerveler, playing his first game at No. 8, also stood out.

“I am very happy with the result,” said ASU’s Lane. “We were a young team when we started this season, and in every game we have developed and grown. I am proud of this team and their work ethic. It bodes well for the future.”

The result was also useful for Goff Rugby Report in terms of rankings. ASU went into the game ranked #24, while San Diego State was ranked #17 after betting Cal Poly by a point the week before. This kind of game was an important crossover between conferences that might indicate that perhaps the second-tier teams in the California conference aren’t quite as strong as the second-tier teams in the PAC.