Match Report: Boise State University

From a coaching perspective, we made a couple decisions based on principle and long term team culture that may have swayed the game (and first half) in our opponent's favor. A couple key players, unable to attend practice this week, or choosing instead to extend spring break, were not started and played less than a half, including our hooker and top try scorer.

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It was a game of two halves. Whether it was the result of poor skill execution or team composition in the first half, it's hard to say.

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At the kickoff, Boise knocked on and committed an offside penalty. The Huskies opted not to take points, instead choosing to take a penalty kick about a minute later and 15 meters further back. Unfortunately, they missed that early opportunity to get on the board, and Boise started the game with 4 unanswered tries in the first half. Two kickers missed touch on penalties a combined 5 times (probably 150m+ territory loss, and 5 unnecessary losses of possession.) When we did find touch, we struggled to win the lineout. Our backs had been executing strike plays well all week, but under pressure couldn't get it to the edge as planned. The halftime score was BSU 26 - UW 0.

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In the most dramatic fashion, the Dawgs fell short of a win, but earned the two losing bonus points necessary to finish 3rd in the conference.

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In the second half, the Dawgs dug deep and scored 2 tries (#12 Josef "Pepi" Dostal, JR and #6 Vaea Tangitau, JR) before Boise scored their 5th and final try, putting the score at UW 14 - BSU 33.UW finally started getting the ball through the hands, with fullback (Sebastian Sosa, JR) and wing (James Savio, SR) dotting down for tries 3 and 4, earning a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. Hitting the uprights on his final kick, Sosa was 3/4 on conversions, putting the game within 7 points to earn a second bonus point in the loss. With Boise and WWU solidly ahead of us, UW (17 tournament points) edges out OSU (16 tournament points) for 3rd place. The jump from last in the conference to 3rd is substantial, and illuminates the importance of team accountability, and that every point counts.

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Final Score: UW 26 - 33 BSU

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This week we transition to 7's before hosting the NCRC 7's Tournament on April 19.