Match Recap OSU

It was a sunny, 60-degree day in Corvallis—perfect for fast rugby. We've started giving out physical caps to players for their debut on the first XV. Today, we handed out six, including three freshmen we were eager to get on the field.

The game went back and forth, with OSU scoring first and UW answering quickly. The key difference today was that our players stayed calm, played stronger defense, and took more risks on offense—which paid off. At halftime, UW led 12-7. The battle continued until we pulled ahead with some brilliant plays. Jaedan Johnson, a lock, made two great kicks—one for field position and another that he chased down for a try. His third kick… well, let's not talk about that.

For about 10 minutes in the second half with reserves coming off the bench, we lost momentum, allowing OSU to close the gap to seven points. But the Huskies sealed the game with a final try. Final score: UW 31 - OSU 17.

Everything clicked on Saturday—UW played their best rugby in years. Hooker Brian Cain credited attending last week's Seawolves practice, saying it showed them the speed of high-level attacking play.

We've worked hard on playing an open, fast-paced game—focusing on opening up defenses rather than just powering through tackles. Our forwards dominated, securing the win, while our backs decided by how much. As the referee put it at the end, "That was a masterclass in backs play."

First XV Man of the Match
OSU selection: Jaedan Johnson (Senior, Seattle WA)
UW selection: Thomas Williams (Freshman, Auckland NZ)

The second XV were bested by OSU, but we closed the gap from our last game and put up 3 well-deserved tries.

Second XV Man of the Match
OSU Selection: Tyler Molia (Freshman, Auburn WA)
UW Selection: Jsame Fola (Freshman, Burien WA)

With starting #8 Vaea Tangitau leaving the field with an ankle injury after 10 minutes, Junior Davis Phinney (also receiving a cap today) played flanker for first and second XV, totaling 150 minutes.

Player of the Day: Davis Phinney (Junior, Reno, NV)

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