Eastside Pulls Our Thriller in Washington
Eastside Pulls Our Thriller in Washington
In an early meeting of two top teams in Washington, the Eastside Lions defeated the Rainier Highlanders in a thriller.
Eastside struck first, setting the tone just five minutes in when tighthead prop Peleki Vuatalevu, a wrecking ball in contact, jackled at the breakdown before rumbling 10 meters forward. Two quick rucks later, captain Lewis Chambers took matters into his own hands, crashing over for the opening score. Flyhalf Jerry Fleming added the extras for a 7-0 Eastside lead.
The Lions’ joy was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Vuatalevu was forced from the field with a shoulder injury, leaving a noticeable hole in the Eastside scrum. Rainier seized the moment, surging downfield and forcing a penalty inside the 22. Opting for the lineout, they built through the phases before their hard-running center Teu Kongaika smashed over. Kooper Tasler’s conversion squared things at 7-7.
Fierce First Half and a Flashpoint
The first half saw both teams hurl themselves into tackles with unrelenting intensity. The defining moment came just before the break when Rainier No. 8 Dillon Titialli was shown a red card. That certainly hurt the Highlanders. The Lions capitalized immediately—Fleming, reading the fringe defense like a book, sniped from the base of a ruck to dart over from five meters out. He coolly slotted the conversion to give Eastside a 14-7 halftime lead.
Second-Half Fireworks
Eastside wasted no time extending their advantage after the restart. Building from a strong forward drive, they spun the ball wide to fullback William Rasileka, who finished clinically in the corner. The conversion drifted wide, but at 19-7, the Lions looked in control.
Rainier, though, had other ideas. Showing resilience, they clawed back territory, and when Eastside were pinged for offside, Tasler stepped up. Reading the swirling wind to perfection, he sent a beautifully judged penalty over the bar. 19-10.
Sensing a shift, Rainier launched wave after wave of attack, their efforts rewarded when Eastside’s No. 7, Abood, saw yellow for a cynical ruck infringement. Smelling blood, the Highlanders turned the screw, and their flying winger Jerry Motokana delivered, finishing expertly in the corner. Unfazed by the angle, Tasler nailed the conversion to make it 19-17.
The Final Frenzy
With Abood back on, Eastside rediscovered their rhythm, grinding their way back into Rainier’s 22. Their pressure was rewarded as bulldozing prop Aseri Kauwea smashed over from close range. The conversion was missed, but at 24-17, the Lions had breathing room.
That margin didn’t last. Another Tasler masterclass from the tee brought Rainier within striking distance at 24-20, setting up a nail-biting final 10 minutes.
And after chasing the scoreboard all day, Rainier took the lead when hooker La’aufausia Maka produced a sensational solo effort, fending off two defenders before diving under the posts. The conversion put Rainier ahead for the first time at 25-24.
But there was still time. As Rainier attempted to clear from their in-goal, an offside chase brought play back for a penalty just five meters out. Cool under pressure, Kauwea powered over for his second try, and Fleming’s conversion sealed a breathtaking 31-25 triumph.
Final Word
This was a well-played and exciting game for, especially considering how early it is in the Rugby Washington season. The game was ferocious, unrelenting, and pulsating right to the final whistle. Eastside’s ability to rally in the dying moments proved the difference, while Rainier’s resilience was undeniable. In this ever-thrilling rivalry, the Lions had the final say—but only just.
