It's been a weird day at the Rocky Mountain Challenge as several teams produces some surprises.

The West Valley Warriors decided they had something to prove, and proved it, defeating EIRA SoCal 15-10 in the first game of the day, and then winning big over Missouri 53-3. Captain Tevita Tauvao said the trick was not worrying too much.

"Eagle Impact tried to match our physicality and when they couldn't they tried to play with a lot of intelligence, and we play more with passion than with our brains. But it's OK, we play with a lot of passion."

The Warriors have stayed fairly chill. They play music and have fun during the tournament. 

"Hydration and preparation is important, but just hanging out and enjoying it and it's how we stay together and play for each other," said Tauvao.

The Warriors have been very physical. They move the ball and play as a unit, and that has been the key for them.

Eagle Impact Rugby Academy Midwest looked very good in dispatching Colorado and a very solid Arizona team. The key was their skills. EIRA started as a weekly clinic system for players to work on their skills, and it showed quite clearly in the EIRA MW games.

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Wisconsin was supremely disciplined, and adjusted well to difficult circumstances. The Wisconsin team was unable to break through against Atavus Utah in the first half, but then adjusted, realizing that with a size advantage they should keep it tight and leave the speculative passes out wide for another time.

And finally, also 2-0 was Texas, which had two close wins and played superb defense.

But EIRA SoCal will feel like maybe they should at least be playing for 5th. The format won't allow that. Nebraska, Arizona (Oliver Kwete, Matt Myer, and Braeden Looper looking solid), and 5785 also had their moments.

In the girls bracket, Atavus Utah Academy is in the driver's seat. For the Boys JV, EIRA Midwest was dominant.

No. 8 Russell Lemaster, center and goalkicker Will Chevalier, and power prop Chris Phillips all impressed. "We always work on simple ball-handling skills and doing the simple skills well, and it's paying off," said Chevalier.

EIRA Midwest's execution was superb. 

"We're identifying where to attack and we feel like we're able to make the plays w

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e've been practicing," said Lemaster.