United Storms Back In Utah Fall 7s

United stormed back in both brackets in Utah Youth Rugby’s High School 7s, with the boys and the girls both taking first place in Round 3.

Girls Get Revenge

In the girls bracket, United and Provo both went through pool play 3-0. Provo’s physicality and ability to create turnovers and convert them into scoring opportunities.

The result was only one try allowed in three pool matches as Provo outscored Wasatch (who scored the lone try), Brighton, and Kearns/South Davis by a combined score of 105-5.

United was similarly dominant, outscoring those same three teams 114-17. Wasatch got two tries in a 21-12 loss to United and that result, along with an impressive 27-0 shutout of the Majestics was a harbinger of how they’d finish.

At 1-2 Wasatch tied Majestics for the 3rd-best record on the day, and they played off for 3rd, with Wasatch winning 29-12. It’s worth pointing out that while we’ve talked mostly about United and Provo, Wasatch is 7-5 this season.

Provo Girls Looking Strong, And They're Not Done Yet

So with Provo and United going 3-0, that set up the final. Having lost two weeks ago to Provo by running into a very physical defensive wall, United had to come back with a new plan. The key to that was the loop. Rather than spreading their attack line, United kept it close, and looped speedier players out wide.

That made the Provo defenders run more, and set up overlaps on the outside. United scored early to take a 7-0 lead thanks to that approach.

Provo came right back but a little impatience at the goal line meant the Steelers were penalized for not releasing the ball. United moved the ball smoothly and eventually scored thanks to some unselfish play. Again Provo threatened only to have the ball stolen and United once again break through and score thanks to a nice offload off the floor.

Provo surged back in the second half, but it was too steep a mountain to climb. United held on 21-12 thanks to a plan that used their speed and passing skill.

United Boys Return Even Stronger 

After a round off because the team was in quarantine, United returned with a vengeance. Repeatedly United scored tries through the day by breaking tackles. Too many defenders wrapped up, but then didn’t hold onto the ballcarrier with enough strength.

United players just ran through the tackles. Mountain Ridge played a similar game, and looked pretty solid early, but were tested by Bright/Copper Hills in a game they were expected to win handily. And then they were taken down by a smaller Wasatch team that moved the ball well and scored a couple of surprise tries. So in the end the much-anticipated United vs Mountain Ridge clash was a bit of an anticlimax.

Mountain Ridge was tired, and United pulled away 24-7. United ended the day 4-0, while Mountain Ridge clung to 2nd thanks to a superior points difference over Wasatch—both teams were 2-2.

Kearns/South Davis edged Bright 17-15 for 5th—this was the first win all fall for Kearns/South Davis.

Standings

Playoff Scores:
5th/6th: Kearns/South Davis 17-15 Brighton
3rd/4th: Wasatch 29-12 Majestics
Final: United 21-12 Provo