In a wild, end-to-end game, the Rainier Highlanders defeated the Budd Bay Barbarians 32-27 to improve to 4-0 in the Rugby Washington Boys DI.

The Highlanders were in DII last year, and won that division. Their special style of quick-hands rugby has stood them in good stead in DI this season. 

The game’s scoring started in something of a bizarre play. Budd Bay was knocking on the door at the Rainier tryline, when a turnover allowed a Rainier to break away and race downfield. He was caught by fullback Uli Togiola, and while the Rainier players flooded in to recycle and continue the attack, they were a little frantic and were penalized for a ruck infraction. This was fortunate for Budd Bay because half their team was still trying to get back onside. 

Nonetheless, flyhalf Isaiah Loucks tapped quickly and took off, eventually scoring in the corner in a play that went essentially from one tryline to the other and back.

Somewhat lucky to be up 5-0, Budd Bay saw another scoring opportunity die because of a turnover at the tryline. This time, hooker Tyson Hart did go all the way, and the game was tied.

For Budd Bay, Loucks was brilliant, smoothly connecting with center Clay Markoff to run the offense. And the flyhalf worked a nice given-and-go with Markoff to score and put his side up 12-5.

Rainier was struggling with handling Budd Bay’s notable size advantage in the rucks. But they poached enough ball to give their backs, including inside center Cornelius Polo, who looked to be an imposing presence, but opted more often than not to pass. It was a long pass by Polo that set free EJ Brown for the try that tied it up just before halftime.

In the second half, Rainier’s big charging wing Brown raced around the corner, but was called in touch. However, on the second opportunity, Brown made no mistake, thundering through some tackles after some smooth ball-handling by the backline, and putting the Highlanders up 17-12. The Highlander speed and their ability to win lineouts started to tell, and Budd Bay seemed to tire on a warm Saturday. An eightman pick set up another try, and Rainier led 24-12 and looked in control.

But Budd Bay stormed back. They used their forwards to pummel Rainier back into their 22. Rainier got a penalty, but the kick to touch didn’t make it to the sideline, and the was Loucks to weave his way back toward the Rainier line. Rainier was penalized, and Skylar So’oto powered over. That made it 24-17, and moments later, Loucks broke through again, and while he was tackled, Togiola was there to pick up and cruise over to make it 24-22.

On the charge now, Budd Bay once again burst through the middle, this time with Markoff making the big yards before quick ball and some good passing allowed Togiola to score in the corner to give his side the 24-27 lead.

Time was winding down now, and Rainier seemed to score, but the ball was held up in-goal. However, much of the rest of the game was played in the Budd Bay 22 as the Highlanders kept the pressure on. Another potential try was called back for a forward pass, but Rainier’s defense forced a turnover after the scrum, and quick hands once again put Jackson Cooley in at the corner. 29-27 Rainier.

The Highlanders got a penalty, and Jacob Nist, whose goalkicking was crucial in the game, slotted a penalty to make it 32-27.

“It was a tough game, for us,” said Budd Bay Coach Trevor Anderson, whose team dropped to 1-3. “We lost our goalkicker to graduation last year and we’re having a tough time finding a replacement. We felt good about how we’ve competed, and all our games have been close.”

That goalkicker, by the way, is current AIC freshman sensation Lui Sitama.

“We just needed to get our structure better,” said Rainier Head Coach Jeff Sprouse. “We maybe took a step back in that and Budd Bay took advantage in that. We had some players missing but we needed to be more consistent and more consistent in the basics.”

On the day, Loucks showed himself to be a special talent, and he was directly responsible for four of Budd Bay’s tries. For Rainier, Brown and Polo had several good moments, but the team’s performance started and ended with captain and loose forward Halleluiah Tiauli.

“When it got tough I just talked to the guys about calming down. All through spring break we have been working on spreading on defense and getting everyone matched up and making tackles,” said Tiauli. “When we fell behind - usually we’re the underdogs so it’s nothing new. We just said, bring it in, everybody take a deep breath, and let’s play Rainier rugby. Instead of people yelling at each other I like to have everyone just chill and know what they need to do.”

And it worked.

Also in Washington this week, Chuckanut won 71-3 over Kent, while Liberty defeated Eastside 65-13 in a game where both sides were missing key players, and so both teams decided not to count that game for the standings.

So Chuckanut leads the league with a 4-1 record, and Rainier is 4-0. With the bonus-point system in play, Budd Bay is not out of it at 1-3, since the Barbarians have earned five bonus points.