Defending Utah state champs Kau Toa bested Skyline Rugby Club Saturday, showcasing a nice combinations of speed and power.

This was a big win for Kau Toa due to the history between the two teams. Last year Kau Toa's only regular season loss came at the hands of Skyline during the Utah Open Tournament, a week before the playoffs. 

In only the second week of the 2015 season the still-young Kau To a program was looking for a little payback, and got started in the 10th minute when Jacob Jenkins beat two of Skyline’s speedy defenders to score the first of his two tries for the day. 

"Kau Toa's ability to spread the field was one of the key factors for their victory,” said Skyline Head Coach Andrew Wilcox. 

The teams were within five points at halftime, but i the second half Kau Toa exploited their power in their midfield and pace out wide to pull away.

“They had numbers outside all day but they can really use a little more communication,” said Kau Toa Backs Coach Larry Lavaka. 

Flyhalf Brian Vea, a transfer from Colorado, and scrumhalf Amanaki Lavaka, who was invited to the High School All American winter camp, played well.

"They will be deadly together but it will take constant communication and familiarity,”, said Lavaka. 

Along with Lavaka, assisting Kau Toa Head Coach Eugene Kaumoeatu is former Eagle and BYU All American Salesi Sika, a veteran of two Rugby World Cups and a former pro player.

He was happy with the improvement they had shown but was very quick to point out that there is much to learn. Kau Toa is only in its third year of competition, but they’ve progressed quickly. 

"We are certainly not United or Snow Canyon,” said Kau Toa's General Manager Kama Muti. "We are just fortunate enough that some calls went our way, the ball bounced just right and that we find ourselves in this conversation. Right now, we are getting ready for Bountiful Rugby Club this coming weekend. They will show up to play and we better be ready."

Also in Utah action, it was two-for-two for Olympus this weekend in Utah as they beat both Skyline and Davis in Utah Youth Rugby league play.

Olympus beat Skyline 38-24 on Friday in front of 2,000 fans, and handles Davis 36-15 a day later.

“We need to create depth and tat’s why we are playing these back-to-back games,” said Olympus Coach Blake Burdette, a former USA teammate of Sika’s and a former rival when he played for the University of Utah. “It’s still early, but we are getting better and the boys are buying in.”

Coming up for Olympus is East HS, which hammered Wasatch 75-0. Highland, meanwhile, beat Bear River 84-0.

Herriman defeated a physical West Valley side on a day when Herriman had four games to play at various levels and no refs assigned (this is becoming an issue in Utah). 

The coaches stepped in to officiate and Herriman won three of the four games, including the Varsity matchup against West Valley.

“It was a bit of sloppy rugby to be sure as none of them [the referee coaches] had any officiating experience, but we had four games and every player in the program got to play, so that is always a good day.”

In the Varsity match, wing Kyler Burch and flyhalf and captain Jordan Marrott each scored twice for Herriman. Brig Rush scored the team’s opening try for the second straight game. Sione Bloomfield was a defensive game-changer and stood out as the most dynamic player on the field with several crushing tackles to force turnover ball.