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State Championship day has arrived at the gloriously sunny Polo Grounds. Who will prevail? Rainier, the reigning 2022 champions, or Eastside Lions, who have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the 2023 15's season?
Eastside put themselves under pressure from the kickoff with a knock-on and Rainier maintained the pressure until fullback Jacob Sio delivered a sweet kick over the Eastside defense and into the hands of center Elu Ta'Ape for a score. No. 10 Teu Kongaika, ricocheted a kickoff the bar for the conversion. 7-0 Rainier.
From the restart, Eastside took the ball through over 10 phases of play and deep into Rainier territory with some thunderous runs at the Rainier defense. Play was stopped temporarily when Eastside’s lock, Luke Leddy had to be taken off with some damage sustained. Play continued with a fast transfer to speedster, No. 14, Tyler Oppelaar, who touched down in the right corner. O'Meara missed the conversion in the blustery wind. 7-5 Rainier
Play continued for a time with neither team giving up much other than the odd minor infringement. Then Rainier captain, No. 14 Sio Hefa, made a fantastic individual run down his wing only to be on the end of an equally impressive cover tackle into touch by Eastside No. 9, Noah Clark who surely prevented a certain try.
A Rainier tactical error from an attacking Eastside kick brought Eastside once again within striking distance in the 14th minute and from a lineout and then fast hands to the left wing, this time it was Eastside No. 15, Parker Jackson who touched down after breaking several tackles. O'Meara was on target this time with the conversion, taking the score to 12-7 for the Lions.
From the restart, Noah Clark was on fire once again, when he capitalized on lax defensive coverage at a ruck on the Eastside 10. After a 20-yard dash, he delivered a perfect chip just shy of the Rainier try line then made the tackle on the Rainier defender, who gave away a penalty. After a couple of short drives at the line, Eastside lock, Kai Holec, handed off to No. 8, Lewis Chambers, who crashed over for the try. The try was unconverted. 17-7 Eastside.
From the restart, it looked like Eastside might score again, when they quickly took the ball to Rainier's 5-yard line. But Rainier No. 8, RJ Schrimpsher was having none of it, and made a thundering run that carried his team to the halfway line, and the end of the first riveting half.
The second half resumed with intensity. Both teams carried hard in a battle that spanned the length and breadth of the field. There were a couple of key moments. From a Rainier lineout on the Eastside 22, Rainier's hooker, La'Au Maka made a short throw to the front of the line and re-collected from a pop-pass - Eastside replacement winger, Jerry Fleming, made a great try-saving tackle. Soon after, Rainier 13, Ta'Ape picked up a yellow card when a mis-timed interception attempt turned into high-contact on the Eastside attacker. Play eventually ended up at a lineout on the Rainier 5-meter line, and when lock, Lawson Barton sensed defenses opening after his clean catch, he turned on a grasping Rainier defense and touched down for the try. O'Meara was spot on with the conversion to bring the score to 24-7.
Rainier took play to the Eastside 5-yard line after several driving phases, and from a free-kick awarded for an early Eastside push in a scrum, RJ Schrimpsher reacted quickly with a quick tap and drive to touch down for the try, converted by Kongaika. 24-14.
Rainier continued their impressive resurgence at the restart and once again took the ball into Eastside territory. Backs and forwards combined well across several phases until the ball was spun wide to replacement winger, No. 19, Jerry Motokana, who scrambled a few short yards in for a try. The strong wind got the better of the conversion attempt, and what was the final play of the game.
Final score, 24-19, Eastside.
This was an incredible game to witness. Both teams have had a fantastic season, but the State Championship went to the well-deserving Eastside Lions, who retained their unbeaten run.
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