Week Two in Rugby Idaho saw an epic battle of the mountains. Rocky Mountain and Mountain View clashed in a repeat of last year's Idaho State Championship. It took 68 minutes for the returning champs to take the lead over the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies in this game that came down to the finish.
"Grit," said Mountain View Mavericks Head Coach Hamish Bell. "That's what I call it. They showed grit and determination. Our boys were down early and never gave up."
Rocky's back line, led by two EIRA players, Kyle and Ethan Van Tonder, positioned their centers to score two tries and take a 12-0 lead. The Grizzlies appeared to have the game on cruise control until a few mistakes allowed the Mavericks back in.
The GRR mentioned Mountain View's 4-year starting flyhalf, Cody Hersey, two weeks ago and how he can punish teams with his kicking, and he did. Mistakes cost Rocky Mountain a couple of quick penalty kicks bringing the score to 12-6. Hersey finished with 20 points.
The match went back and forth with each team scoring multiple tries and Rocky Mountain holding the lead. Big breakaways led by Mountain View's scrumhalf Luke Adams and fullback Caden Chandler allowed Hersey to score two more tries, but with 2 minutes left in the match, it was still Rocky Mountain up by 6 and Mountain View's forwards showing grit.
"We looked to our forward's power to finish the game for us," Bell continued.
Mountain View No. 8 Andrew Flores led the forwards on a punishing pick and go routine which finally found the goal. Hersey's conversion kick split the uprights from near the sideline giving the Mavericks their first lead and the win.
Capital won a close one 29-22 over the weekend to join Mountain View at 2-0.
| Rugby Idaho Boys DI | W | L | T | Pf | Pa | Pd | BT | BL | Pts |
| Mountain View | 2 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 32 | 77 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Capital | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 22 | 78 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Eagle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 83 | 53 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Rocky Mountain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 77 | 40 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Nampa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 83 | -64 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Renegade | 1 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 62 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Bingham | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 98 | -81 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rush | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 127 | -91 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
