What a weekend for the East High Rugby Team!!!  This past Friday the East High team faced cross town rival Olympus High School.  This would be a showdown between two of the top rugby teams in the State.  The Leopards would strike first in the match off of a crash ball from Halani Utuone making his way past the try line.  Olympus would answer about 4 minutes later tying the score 7 to 7.  On the next possession Olympus took advantage of the outside and made another score.  East would answer off of an Olympus penalty.  The ball would go to Napa Nuusa who would bulldoze in for the score.  With a missed conversion Olympus would retain the lead 14 to 12.  Olympus would respond with another score.  A few moments later the pressure from the East defense would force an Olympus turnover.  Halani Utuone would emerge with the ball with nothing but space between him and the end zone.  Right before he could score he was pulled down by the back of the neck.  East was awarded a penalty try for the high tackle.  The score would now be 19 to 21 for Olympus. The match was proving to be a battle.  Olympus would strike one more time making the score at the half 19 to 28 for Olympus.

East would capture some momentum in the second half.  The leopards would score first off of a crash ball by Pate Langi.  This was set up by great phase play just moments before.  This would bring the leopards within 2 points of Olympus.  Minutes later East would score again off of lose play, Napa Nuusa rumbled in for his second score of the game.  The Leopards would recapture the lead making the score 33 to 28 for East.  East would then go on to score their last try of the match.  Fusi Teisina took the ball from the back of the scrum from about 25 meters out.  The conversion was missed making the score 38 to 28.  With about 7 minutes left in the game, Olympus would answer with another try.  The conversion was good making the score 38 to 35 for East.  The last minutes of the game were a back and forth battle but the Leopards would hang on as time expired for the victory.  This would be the first time the East High Rugby team has defeated Olympus since the program began.  It was a strong victory for the Leopards and a solid team effort.