ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 24) – The Central Washington University men's rugby team defeated the University of Idaho, 118-0.
 
"Great to be out there playing someone today other than ourselves after a long three weeks of training," CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley said.  "We had good moments and guys who made good plays.  We want to thank you Idaho for coming up to a cold Ellensburg on a windy day and giving our young guys some much needed competition."
 
The Wildcats' younger side got the scoring started in the second minute.  Noah Christy intercepted an errant offload and grounded the ball in try.  Ian Wright added the game's first conversion.
 
Alex Mackenzie scored the second try in the sixth minute.  A breakaway from midfield allowed Mackenzie to scamper his way for the try. Mackenzie added another try in the at the end of the first half.
 
Cole Zarcone added the Wildcats' third try in the eighth minute.  The Vandals could not weather the Wildcats' attack, allowing Zarcone to collect an off-load and find the try zone.  Nick Siemens added his first conversion of the day.  Zarcone later scored a second try in the 27^th miute.  Jake Szumski added the conversion.
 
Tresten Keys found the try zone in the 12^3th minute, plunging over the try line after a lineout.  Siemens knocked his second conversion through the uprights following the try.
 
Makani Mafua socreed his first try of the contest just a minute after Keys.  Right off the restart, Mafua broke through the Vandals' line and in for the try.  He added another try in the second half, putting a 75-meter run together for the score.  Chas Capiti tacked on the conversion.
 
Siemens scored his first try in the 19^th minute.  A 30-meter run, coupled with a few shifty moves from the senior fly-half, gave Siemens an opening to plunge over the try line. 
 
Jackson Cooley then scored back-to-back tries in the 23^rd and 25^th minutes.  The first try came following a scrum, before a muffed kick from Idaho gave way to Cooley's second try.  Cooley finished the hat trick in the second half, scoring his third try after a lineout.  His fourth try came five minutes later following a scrum.
 
Sandwiched in between Cooley's four tries, Brian Nault found the try line after an off-load from Christy.  Szumski notched his first try, scoring after a well-placed kick from Wright.  Jeremy Lennartz Jr. then scored, with Szumski adding the conversion, and giving the Wildcats a 73-0 lead at half.
 
Just 30 seconds after the second half's opening kick, Alex Walker notched a try following a lineout.  Szumski added the conversion.
 
After Cooley's fourth try, Scott Dean tallied his a try down the left wing.  Szumski added another conversion.
 
With 7:30 remaining in full time, Max Riseham found the try sheet.  The Hull native found room to work on the right wing and made his way in for the try.
 
The Wildcats' final try came from Szumski, who then tacked a conversion onto his own try.
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday (Mar. 3) to take on the University of Washington in Ellensburg.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.