The Utah Cannibals claimed the Boys U18 division at the 49th Annual Denver 7s Boys High School Championship last weekend, defeating their own U16 team in a sudden death final. 

Utah fielded a U18 side of players who had never played 7s before in hopes of making the final squad for the British Columbia 7s July 8th in Victoria Canada where they will join a corps of veteran U18 7s players who made it to the CRC Finals back in June. The U16s were another story, they came with an entire group of experienced 7s players for the Denver 7s and made an impressive run to the Cup Final.

Both sides had gone undefeated during pool play and knock out rounds against some very tough opponents to include Colorado State 15s Single School Champions Regis High School, the Westside SWARM, Denver East HS, and a solid Rio Rancho Rebels. Utah fielded a U18 side comprised of Seniors and Juniors new to the game of 7s in preparation for the British Columbia 7s and a very seasoned U16 side of veteran 7s players. “This was a great opportunity for our players new to the 7s game to come to a quality tournament, get exposed to what the 7s game is all about, and against solid competition” said Utah 7s Director Mark Drown. 

The final turned out to be a classic Championship with the U16s taking a 21-7 lead going into the half. “It was really interesting watching the U18 players react to being out played and out positioned by the U16 side and at the half they were discussing how to stop and counter the U16s” said U18s Coach Rob Randell. “Our goal was simple” stated Collin Puriri U16s Coach “Make them chase us and avoid decisive engagements”. That is exactly what happened and in the second half the U16s scored again extending their lead. However, the U18s finally got their composure and started to quickly chip away at the score with some impressive runs down the U16s flanks dotting down under the uprights. The final try was scored by the U18s and with no time left all that was needed to win the match was the conversion. The conversion went wide and at the end of regulation the score was tied at 32-32.

The U18s kicked off and recovered their kick, maintaining possession, they found their speediest player who was able to cut through a gap in the U16s line to seal the Championship for the U18s. “You really could not have asked for a more exciting final, and of more importance, watching the U18 players grow from the 7s experience and the U16s stepping up their game against a bigger stronger side” said Randell.

Utah will now prepare for the British Columbia 7s in Victoria, B.C. where they will field a U18 Select Side, U18 Open Side, U16 Side, and a U18 Girls Side. The Cannibals are the defending 2015 British Columbia 7s U16 Cup Champions, and an original member of the first British Columbia 7s Tournament held in 2011.

2016 DENVER 7s - High School Division: Utah Cannibals U18, Utah Cannibals U16, Palmer HS, Monarch HS, Rio Rancho Rebels U18, Rio Rancho Rebels U16, Westside SWARM , Denver EAST HS, Boulder HS, Regis HS, Colorado Springs Grizzlies, Aurora HS.