Herriman used some big plays and a deep bench to come back from behind for a 34-25 victory over United, in a game that was yet another classic between the two teams in Utah Youth Rugby action. 

Herriman came in to the game unbeaten on the season, while United has been riding high from several quality wins from a very experienced side.

United spent a great deal of the early part of the game in Herriman territory following a knock on, but the Mustangs were able to turn the ball over and clear several times.  A penalty gave United a good look from 30 meters out, and the kick was slotted for a 3-0 advantage.  Herriman would answer back with some patient play that saw double digit phases before Maea Leakehe nearly scored with a weaving run.  United was penalized and Herriman opted to go wide to find wing Sterling Burr through in the corner for a try and a 5-3 lead.

Herriman nearly fielded their box kick attempt on the ensuing series, but United did well to take it under pressure and worked the ball ahead with nice go forward inside before sending it wide.  Herriman appeared to have cover with a 2 on 2 situation near the sideline, but some miscommunication saw the wing and fullback both defending the same man, and the momentary lapse is all that speedy wing Eli Pulu needed to put one away from 50 meters. The easy conversion gave the lead back to United at 10-5. 

Herriman was offside at the restart and United took advantage and kept the offensive pressure on.  Bailey Wilson and Billy Tenney made nice gains in tight, and the ball went wide near the try line to Pulu, who outran his opposite number to the corner for his second try in as many minutes.

Realizing the need to apply more pressure on defense, Herriman began coming up harder and appeared to be much better organized on the defensive side, and physical plays from Mafi Mahuinga and Jake Anderson resulted in a turnover deep in United territory.  After a few nice stands from United, Mariano Delgado picked up and found a gap to the weakside of the ruck to touch over for a try to pull within 3 at 15-12.

United’s restart did not go 10, and a nifty move from the scrum eventually found #8 Fisher Jackson, who nearly scored on a 40 meter sprint.  The support wasn’t there, however, and United was clinical moving the ball down the field and capitalizing on a Herriman knock on from a player who appeared to have been injured in the previous ruck.  United’s relentless attack paid off with a corner try at the halftime whistle to go in to the break up 20-12.  

Herriman seemed to have a renewed vigor to begin the second half, keeping United pinned down deep in their territory, but the visitors sensed that perhaps this could finally be their first win in 15s over the Mustangs after so many close calls in years past.  Massive flanker Billy Tenney, a matchup nightmare for any team at 250 pounds and faster than many wings, found an outside gap and made a long break down the sideline.  Herriman’s two smallest players, Gavin Flint and Burr, did well to chase down and stop the big man just short of a score, but all-everything Bailey Wilson was there to finish things off, and Herriman looked to be in trouble down 25-12. 

Herriman stars Maea Leakehe and Taysan Hammer, however, knew their team had a lot of fight left, and proceeded to lead the way from the front, taking center stage in a monstrous comeback in which both were playing different positions from the first half due to injuries, sliding to Flyhalf and Wing, respectively, and making way for the very solid reserve center pairing of Alec Perschon and Kyle Farmer.  Their teammates had plenty to say about things as well, as they continually began meeting United behind the gain line and forced a turnover.  Hard running by Tyson Herrera and Ngana Leakehe took the ball within 2 meters, and Jackson reached over for a score to cut the deficit to 25-17.  Maea Leakehe kept United at bay with booming clearing kicks, and then took advantage of a ball stripped away by his forwards to pick up a bouncing ball and race down the sideline for a momentum turning try which he then converted to get within a single point. 25-24.

Tonia McPeak photo.

After so much action, the game hit a bit of a standstill for the next 7-8 minutes, with both teams playing excellent defense and trying a bevy of attacking movements and kicks in an attempt to break through.  Maea Leakehe would again provide the boost, pressuring Owen Gubler in to a dropped pass which he deftly picked up in stride.  With the fullback in position he was not able to outrun the defense this time, instead finding Hammer steaking down the field in great support.  The speedy Hammer would do the rest down the sideline to reclaim the lead for Herriman for the first time since very early in the game, 29-25.  

The teams played the next few minutes just on each other’s side of midfield, Herriman fighting to keep the hard-earned momentum they now had, and United trying desperately to gain it back.  Tenney made a break for United that was thwarted by poor support and a not releasing call, and a break by Delgado led to an even bigger break from Hammer for Herriman, who seemed to be away again but was tracked down by excellent cover defense before offloading to Perschon, who was found guilty of his own not releasing infringement in isolation.  

Toni McPeak photo.

United had an excellent chance with a kick to touch to Herriman’s 5m line a few minutes later, but the hosts made a huge stand, not yielding a single meter through 7 phases.  A thundering Jake Anderson hit and strip found the ball once again in Maea Leakehe’s hands, who would go on attack and force a United penalty, followed by a rumbling surge ahead from younger (but bigger) brother Ngana.  United got the ball back eventually, but Hammer would force a knock on with great pressure defense, then get the ball minutes later on the other side of the field to touch down the clincher  and put his team up 34-25.

With minutes left, United strung together a nice attack, led as usual by Wilson.  Delgado and reserve flanker Tui Kefu made big defensive plays in space, however, and Flint booted the ball out to put a cap on an incredibly intense, hard fought game between the Utah rivals.

United rebounded nicely two days later, topping an excellent Genesis side who had been on a tear of late. Herriman looks to a big week, hosting Hawaii power Kahuku on Thursday and a quick turnaround at Olympus on Saturday.