The Liberty Patriots produced something of a statement game Saturday as they defeated 1-0 Kent 50-12 in Rugby Washington league play.

Liberty seemed to be on top of their game plan for most of the game, putting pressure on the Crusaders and hardly letting them out of their half for the first 20 minutes.

During that time Liberty scored three tries, working their way into the Kent 22 and patiently finding the gaps - or forcing a clearance kick that was summarily punished. Dylan Anderson went over in a pile for the first one. Flyhalf Austun Scipper, a converted center, was the main beneficiary of the Liberty pressure, as he repeatedly sidestepped, dummied, and fended his way through, scoring four tries on the day, including the second.

Kent had a strong push in the scrums but Liberty’s lineout worked fairly consistently, helping the Patriots launch their attacks. Still their second try was actually from a scrum, with No. 8 Taven Erpenbach powering over. 

Kent did score in their first visit to the Liberty 22, but Liberty got one back quickly when center Zachariah Greyson burst down the left side leaving tacklers in his wake, and setting up a ruck after which Scipper worked a loop move to score.

That put the score at 24-7 at halftime.

In the second half, Kent found a little more success using the boot to get some territory. But Once Liberty got the ball, they worked a solid pattern down field. Scipper scored his third, once again outfoxing his defenders, and then Greyson chased a kick in under the posts to make it 38-12.

Prop Derise Fuga thundered down the sideline from the restart, and then Scipper finished it off. Kent scored one late, but it was all Liberty in the end, 50-19.

“We were taken out of our element and out of our game,” said Kent Head Coach Jeremy Torres. “Liberty played a heck of a game but we made some mistakes.”

For Kent, hooker Hayden Warneke showed a solid work rate, and No. 8 Kyle Saalfeld had a strong game. Austin Millican kicked well at flyhalf, but the team as a whole needed to pick their spots in attack kicks. Center Brandon Burn battled well with Greyson and continued to urge his teammates on when the game was lost.

For Liberty, scrumhalf Malcolm Walton was a spark plug, chasing the ball well and serving up a nice, consistent pass from both sides. Scipper was difficult to handle, but for Liberty is started with the powerful prop duo of Fuga, a High School All American, and John Crichton, an imposing presence as tight head.

Erpenbach is an accomplished football player and U17 eligible, while Greyson kicked well and set up several scoring chances with his running. 

But for Liberty, it’s all about the buy-in.

“We work real hard on line speed and pressure defense,” said Liberty Head Coach Jeff Candler. “It creates scoring opportunities. The only scoring opportunities Kent had in the first half was when we had breakdowns on our ball or the ball was on the deck and we didn’t commit to it. We knew if you give Kent confidence they will run with it, and they have some dangerous guys there. 

“Our attack pattern has been solid. We’re real strict about it in practice. Day One we run pattern rugby, starting with the 15- and 13year-olds. Not as sophisticated with the younger kids but laying the ground work about how we attack and defend. We’re trying.”

With the victory, Liberty is 2-0 in Rugby Washington league play. Eastside, who lost to Liberty last week, rebounded with a 21-12 defeat of Budd Bay. Playing more mistake-free rugby, the Lions pressured the Barbarians and created more scoring opportunities - Loren Wallace, Emrick Quah played well and HS All American Alfonso Cornu Labat kicked well, while scrumhalf Brandt Nickel had something of a breakout game. Eastside still left some tries on the field, however. 

Chuckanut moved to 2-0 with a 31-19 defeat of Seattle.

Seattle, the defending state champs, drop to 0-2, but are expected to improve as the spring moves along. They take on Liberty next week, and that will be a tough test, because, as Kent found out, Liberty is looking very good indeed.

(Video interview with Walton and Fuga below. If you don't see it, refresh the page)