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United Wins Pink 7s

  • 16 Oct 2018
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Photos: Trish Griffee Photography (see more)

Utah Youth Rugby (UYR) held its 4th Annual Pink 7s last Friday-Saturday, welcoming high school varsity, junior varsity and women’s teams to Salt Lake City’s premium venue: Regional Athletic Complex. After a full day of competitive 7s, the field narrowed to the highly anticipated United vs. Summit championship, and Utahns triumphed 17-12 for the title.

Pink 7s began in 2015 when Summit High School of Breckenridge, Colo., reach out to UYR for more games. The Tigers won that first invitational, and United has won the trophy from 2016-18. The teams met earlier in the year, when United joined fellow Utah teams at a Rugby Colorado 7s series stop, and Summit won that final 21-12 over the visitors.

In Salt Lake City, eight of the nine varsity pool play games were shutouts, as United’s and Summit’s defenses were functioning well. East also went 3-0 through the early phases and scored the first points against Summit’s top team in a 21-10 Cup semifinal loss. United beat Wasatch (which had pushed East to a 22-19 decision in Friday) 27-0 to meet the Tigers in the final game of the day.

Taumoepeau en route to one of two tries. / Photo: Trish Griffee

Junior Makena Taumoepeau went on tackle-breaking run to put United up 5-0, and then Summit responded through Clara Copley’s try, which was converted be Cece Pennell, 7-5. Again Taumoepeau came through for her side, dotting down before the break (10-7) and lifting her side momentum wise. Senior Lewanda Aspinall kept the energy moving in the right direction and scored after the break, and senior Andreya Hall’s gave United the double-digit lead, 17-7.

Summit scored once more, 17-12, and as the game wound down, held onto possession long enough to require an extra minute in a half of play. If it wasn’t for Hall’s try-saving tackle, the Tigers might have put one more score on the board, but the defenses held, and United won.

Photo: Trish Griffee

“This was a hard-fought game between two well matched teams. United went 5-0 in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 134-12. Summit [varsity] went 4-1 and were the only team to score against United,” United coach Carson Mellott recapped.

All time, United is 3-2 against Summit.

“While this is a strong rivalry, there is a bond that has developed between the two teams,” Mellott added. “Summit hosted a meal and fed all the teams at the tournament on Friday night. Utah Youth Rugby hosted a tournament meal after the awards ceremony on Saturday for all the teams.”

United JV also won the JV Division besting Wasatch 34-0 in the championship. To view the full tournament results for varsity, JV and women: Click here. For video of Pink 7s: Click here.

PINK 7s VARSITY

FINAL: United 17-12 Summit

3rd: East 15-7 Wasatch

Cup SF: Summit 21-10 East

Cup SF: United 27-0 Wasatch

SF play-in: East 46-0 Summit B

SF play-in: Wasatch 29-7 Brighton

POOL PLAY

United 26-0 Wasatch

United 36-0 Brighton

United 48-0 Summit B

Summit A 32-0 Brighton

Summit A 29-0 Summit B

Summit A 35-0 Wasatch

East 45-0 Summit B

East 22-19 Wasatch

East 36-0 Brighton

United #Pink7s

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