East SLC Wins Battle of East HS Teams
East SLC Wins Battle of East HS Teams
East Rugby out of Salt Lake City, Utah defeated the visiting East Rugby from Denver, Colo. last weekend and the hosts came away with a well-taken 36-10 victory.
East SLC scored first when wing David Bergstedt grabbed a loose ball on the sideline and ran it in. Fullback Rex Bateman couldn't get the conversion over but he did score the next try, finishing off a movement headlined by No. 8 Papa Matelau's break. Bateman converted that one for a 12-0 lead.
Denver East would respond with a try but East SLC answered with Matelau powered over from an eightman pick and a 17-5 halftime lead for the hosts.
Denver East would score first in the second half to make it 17-10. But after that East SLC started to roll. Prop/lock Fatusama Mapa took an offload and headed down the sideline before curving around to touch down under the sticks. Bateman converted. Bateman then added his second try when he lined up on the weak side at a scrum and scrumhalf sniped weak and set him up. That made it 31-10. Finally Naisa Puletau ran in the last one to finish it off 36-10.
It was an impressive showing for East SLC and a good experience for both teams playing unfamiliar opposition.
