In an impressive showing in Arizona, #9 HS Club Tempe defeated #2 HS Club Red Mountain 27-19.

Tempe started strong and scored two minutes into the game, but Red Mountain replied to take a 7-5 lead before the game was six minuted old. Red Mountain punished Tempe for a poor restart and a series of penalties.

But Tempe regained the lead when Aki Pulu finished off a line break from Alani Maafu. That made it 10-7, but Red Mountain came back with a big run up the right sideline to make it 12-10. As the first half came to a close Tempe got a try from Tau Pauga and then one from Maafu after Red Mountain had troubler securing clean scrum ball near their line.

It was a crucial momentum shift as Tempe, instead of going into halftime down 12-10 led 20-12 at the break.

Three minutes into the second half Pauga scored his second to make it 27-12. Red Mountain kept at it, trying to come back, but Tempe was effective at poaching the ball from the rucks and were powerful in the scrum, making sustained attacks difficult. Near the end of the game, however, Tempe's discipline started to slip and three yellow cards for dangerous tackles put them on the back foot and opened the door for a Red Mountain try.

That was it, though, as Tempe held on 27-19.

Both sides came away from the game feeling they could do better.

"Our effort got us the result we deserved," said Red Mountain Head Coach OJ Hawea. "We were just not good enough in matching Tempe's effort and skill. We have a lot of work to do. They're good, but we know we can be better."

Tempe also won the U16 matchup 55-15 on a day when the two clubs played from U10s up to senior men and women.