Eastside continued their strong run of results in Washington state with a 31-8 defeat of rivals Liberty at Pat Ryan Memorial Field.
This was an intense clash between two very good teams. Liberty started off with a blast, making a penetrating run down the right wing that took some desperate defense from Eastside to prevent an early score. It was an early wakeup call for the Lions.
Eastside's forwards dominated the next phases, resulting in a rolling maul that saw the team advance from outside the Liberty 22. Kai Holec, an immense presence in the second row, dotted down on the seven-minute mark. Kieran O'Meara slotted the tough-angle conversion and it was 7-0.
As play continued, both sides secured their set pieces. Liberty's Jamie Brooks showcased impressive towering leaps in lineouts, while Seamus Tuohy stunned Eastside defenses with several torpedo runs in the backline. Liberty, however, lost their way at the breakdown, unable to provide effective support to maintain their momentum. For Eastside, the engine room of Lawson Barton, Kai Holec, and Joseph Chambers, swiftly jackaled any scrap of available ball. A clumsy tackle from Liberty resulted in a red card after a wayward fist connected with Eastside's Puka Masunu, and that put Liberty on the back foot.
