The Atlantis U18 boys defeated the Utah Lions (31-26) in dramatic fashion Saturday at Infinity Park during the finals of the 2015 Serevi RugbyTown 7s, with the game-winning try coming with no time left.
"This was one of the hardest, most hotly contested tournaments we have been in," assistant coach Eric Swapp said. "The teams were incredible and, despite the loss, it shows the Lions can compete with anyone."
Atlantis started the scoring with wing Royall Jones (Hudson Catholic in New Jersey) racing down the sidelines after being misjudged by Keagan Barnes of Bingham High School. Jones was taken down but wasn’t held in the tackle and was able to get up and set the ball under the posts. Sam Devine (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) hit the conversion for the 7-0 lead.
The Lions were startled but not down as they responded immediately with a try by Keagan Barnes. Utah forced a turnover and worked it out to Barnes (Lowland), who avoided a high tackle to go over the line for a try. Colton Swapp’s (Lowland) conversion tied the game 7-7.
Atlantis found Jones once more — this time with Nick Skalka (Gonzaga High) cutting to the outside and pulling defenders before offloading back to Jones. Jones touched down in the corner and the conversion was missed, putting the score at 12-7.
The Lions worked the ball nicely to get over the tryline in answer, Sione Bloomfield and Matt Larson (Lowland) powering through Atlantis tackles, but Jones got his hands under the ball to prevent a try as Larson put the ball down under the posts. It wouldn't last long, as the Lions kept the ball on the scrum put-in while Swapp stepped two Atlantis players to score. His conversion put the Lions up, 14-12, at halftime.
The second half was immediately exciting as the Lions switched into a pressure defense and punished Atlantis in an effort to force turnovers and errors. Atlantis kept a cool head and set up Kevin Trotter, who faked to Jones and went up the middle to put Atlantis ahead, 19-14, with the conversion from Nakayama.
Utah struck off the restart, with Swapp selling a dummy and stepping through to start an 80 meter footrace for a try. His kick was wide, leaving the score tied, 19-19. Kaymahn Siufanua (Orem) substituted in for Swapp . A long restart kick pinned Atlantis in their 22, and a crippling Lions defense forced a turnover. Bloomfield broke through for 22 meters before being tackled. Atlantis failed to roll away and the Lions were awrded a penalty. The Lions took in and ran, but Nai Isaacs was held up 1 meter out. The ruck shifted, and Evan Wilson (Davis High) stretched over for the go-ahead try. Siufanua knocked over the extras, and Utah led, 26-19.
With two minutes left, the restart failed to go 10 meters, and Atlantis was awarded the free kick. Atlantis showed restraint and patience and was awarded a try in the corner by Niumataiwalu. Atlantis chose not to go for the conversion, which would have ended the game in a tie, instead opting for the restart.
The Lions knocked on the kick and were in a scrum with 10 seconds left. Atlantis won the scrum and worked the ball outside to Dabulas, who scored in the corner, winning the match.
The Lions have been invited to the Q-Meta cup Sept. 19 in Ontario to compete against the Kenyan u18 national team and are running a GoFundMe campaign to pay for travel expenses.
Final Score Atlantis 31 Tries: Jones 2, Trotter, Niumataiwalu, Dabulas Conversions: Devine, Nakayama, Dabulas
Utah Lions 26 Tries: Barnes, Swapp 2, Wilson Conversions: Swapp 2, Siufanua 1