Snow Canyon HS in St. George Utah took a short trip to Southern California over the weekend, with their JV team losing a close game to Tri-Cities and their varsity handing the San Diego Mustangs a 43-3 defeat in Poway, Calif.

“We’re in rural southern Utah and we end up traveling a lot for rugby,” said Snow Canyon Coach Jay Day. “It’s just as far for us to travel to Southern California as it is to go to Northern Utah. So we go there looking for quality opponents, and a different style of play.”

Traditionally, Utah rugby usually focuses on a power game, whereas Southern California teams are smaller and move the ball a bit more. It’s a more free-flowing style and it is a style Snow Canyon likes to play. Snow Canyon has developed a relationship with the Mustangs.

“Last year’s game was a barnburner - probably the highlight of our season,” said Day. “This year they were very tough, and I don’t think the score was an indication of the level of the game.”

Snow Canyon won 43-3.

“Playing a different style of game helps us,” added Snow Canyon captain Sam Silvers. “It was good for us. We were kind of in sync the entire game. We can run the danger of getting caught up in the other’s team’s game, but we didn’t do that. We stayed focused the whole game.”

Ahead for for the defending state single-school champs Snow Canyon, which sits 1st in the Southern Utah Nevada Conference at 3-0, are rivals  Las Vegas Rugby Academy. LVRA sits 1-0 and will host Snow Canyon in a game that likely decides who wis the conference. Then it’s on to face Lowlan and Canyon View. And then circled on the calendar is the Ra Puriri Cup, a traveling trophy played for by United (coached by Colin Puriri) and Snow Canyon (coached by Michael Puriri) in honor of their father, Ra.