Two of the top teams in Utah met up this past weekend with LCA beating Herriman 31-22.
Herriman came in a bit beat up, with a few injuries. They also were without their two captains, one with injury and one (Ryker Syddall) with at the Rosslyn Park School Sevens in the UK with the Rebel Rugby Academy.
Still Herriman battled well and were smart and disciplined, but LCA was the better team.
“It was a well-fought physical battle against a great well-coached and disciplined Herriman team,” said LCA Head Coach Tongia Vaitaki. “I was a little disappointed because our discipline was falling apart in the last 10 minutes of the game but our boys was maintaining a well hard defense with 13 players to held back Herriman from coming back. We worked hard every day and prepared ourselves for those moments, strong mind and confidence on each other no matter what but the effort from all our forwards to match the physicality of Herriman and backline was able to capitalize from our forwards hard work and put points on the board.”
Flanker Vai Havili was outstanding both as a defender and when LCA had the ball. He also executed a couple of key lineout steals that led to tries. Herriman led 19-12 when Havili nabbed those lineouts and it helped turn the momentum.
Center Soni Talanoa was a strong runner and set up tries from Zee Vea and Siaki Fekitoa that allowed LCA to take and keep the lead.
“End of the days both forwards and backline put the work together and added up with single individual skills and talent from each other win the battle,” said Vaitaki. “But for sure we will get better getting for the second round I’m sure Herriman will bring it again.”
