The Northern California Grizzlies wrapped up a repeat in the Boys U16 division at the Great Northwest Challenge, beating Colorado 22-8 in the championship game.
The final was a very close game through most of the contest. Colorado’s commitment to playing in the right end of the field made it difficult for the Grizzlies to get into scoring position.
NorCal, meanwhile, would have been forgiven for being a bit impatient given how quickly they had been scoring in previous games. But they were more calm than that, and when Colorado failed to roll away in the ruck about 30 meters from the tryline, they pointed to Jack Younger to take three points, which he.
But Colorado’s plan was a good one. A longer period camped out in the NorCal 22 in fact opened the scoring for Colorado, with Parker Sanchez finishing nicely out wide. Colorado was back at it again and NorCal scrambled well to keep their opponents away from the tryline. However, they did get penalized for not rolling, and Colorado wisely opted for the kick at goal, which scrumhalf Brave Dolan slotted for a lead of 8-3.
One of the things is takes a while to explain to new rugby fans is why the scored-upon team kicks off. But it was spelled out nicely here, when the NorCal restart chasers forced a drop and suddenly the Grizzlies had front-foot ball in the Colorado half.
The ball was quickly sent to center Isaac Koi who sliced between two defenders, sidestepped past another, and outpaced the final man to score from 45 meters.
That try tied it up. Colorado looked to regain that momentum with another Dolan penalty, but his effort drifted wide, and the teams switched sides tied 8-8.
But slowly NorCal started to take control. Center MIcah Anum powered through, garnering the attention of four defenders. He then offloads to Koi bursting on an angled line and Koi was uncatchable. Younger converted for a 15-8 lead.
The partnership of Anum on the inside and Koi on the outside was trouble for Colorado, and as the Rocky Mountain team had to scramble harder and further to rein in Grizzly speedsters, things just become more difficult. Much of the rest of the final was played within 60 meters of the Colorado tryline; it was Northern California that was winning the field position game.
Late in the game NorCal won a scrum and as Colorado burst up to take time and space away from Younger, the flyhalf simply sent a perfectly-weighted grubber through for Koi to chase and get his hat trick.
It wasn’t over yet. Colorado did have some chances, but because they were now down 22-8, they needed tries … converted tries … and they were chasing the game. Northern California was able to close it out.
“I think we really beat them on the speed factor and the agility factor,” said prop Graham Welton. “Especially out eightman [Josech Archer Chochrek] and our flankers, [who] were really fast out of those rucks and after the scrums. I think our front row got that push in the scrums to help us win."
