USA back Troy Hall has been involved with Rugby Oregon for some years now, but this was the first year that he actively took on the state select side, and in doing so he led the team to victory at the Great Northwest Challenge.

Now the level of competitive at the GNC wasn’t as tough as in 2014 - Northern California and Southern California played in the Southwest RCT, and the official Washington Loggers did, too - but the field of Washington Wolverines, Kalihi Raiders, and Montana wasn’t weak, and Oregon still controlled it in impressive fashion.

“The last two years I’ve watch the program progress - I didn’t want to just jump in and take over,” said Hall, who will ship out to join the USA Pacific Nations Cup squad in a few days. “This year is the the most high school rugby I’ve been able to watch. I committed to it and getting down to picking the right players. In the past getting the right players on the field, and developing them, was a sticking point.”

Oregon is usually smaller up front, and probably had the smallest pack among all four teams. But their skill level was high.

“The boys stepped up in terms of getting around the field a little bit more,” added Hall. “I was big on fitness with them and not just fitness but working them hard in practice. I wanted to get them to be a bit smarter about where they need to be on the field, and not just running for the sake of it. So that helps them save their energy.”

Hall said he’s on the lookout for bigger players, but his squad fronted up nicely against a tough-minded Washington team. A first-half goal line stand that limited the Wolverines to a penalty goal - their only points of the final - was evidence of that. 

“I talked to the boys that the five to seven minutes before the halftime break was perhaps the most pleasing thing for me,” Hall said. “Teams in the past might have given up and given up that try, but they didn’t. That never-say-die attitude is big.”

So, too, is executing basic fundamentals, especially when players are tired.

“We’re still not where I want it to be, but we took a step in the right direction,” said Hall.