ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's rugby team takes on BYU in a pivotal D1A fixture.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, February 29
Vs Brigham Young University
12:00 p.m.
Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, WA
 
QUOTABLE
"BYU has always been a massive challenge for us over the years and this Saturday will be no different," CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley said.  "They are a great side with quality rugby players right through their side. We are grateful and excited to be hosting a quality side on Tomlinson Stadium and hope the crowd can help us rise to the occasion. Performance wise we must be a lot more consistent in all areas of the game then we have been so far this season, or else we know BYU will make us pay and take away any chance of an upset result."
 
D1A STREAM
The fixture between CWU and BYU is set to take place this coming Saturday, Feb. 29 inside Tomlinson Stadium at 12 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed for free through CWU's Stretch Internet Portal along with being picked up by D1A Rugby at FTFNext.com
 
Fans can catch Saturday's D1A Rugby fixture by watching on CWU's Stretch Internet page as well as FTFNext.com by clicking the links above. The game is also available to watch through the FTFNext app which is available on iPhone/iPad, Android, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, Roku TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV.
 
To watch the game through Stretch, fans can also download the gnac.tv app via Roku TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
 
 
SCOUTING BYU
Brigham Young lost in their last fixture, 25-24, to a tough St. Mary's (CA) side.  The meeting between the two Division I powerhouses proved to be a grind-it-out affair.   BYU held the lead for most of the match against the Saint Mary's Gaels, but fell short on the last play of the game and lost by a score of 24-25. 

Play started aggressively from both squads with near tries from both sides, but BYU put points up first when senior James Mocke broke the line with 31 minutes remaining in the first half. The Cougars maintained this lead until the final 2 minutes before the half when the Gael's scored and went up 14-15.

BYU regained its lead after halftime, and held on to it until the final play of the game when a tremendous Saint Mary's push was enough to score a try, which put the Gaels up 25-24 with no time left to play. 

This tough matchup ended in a loss for the Cougars, but provided a valuable learning experience for the BYU squad who will prepare to meet Saint Mary's again in Provo for their Spring home opener. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington took down Trinity Western, 76-10, in their last outing.  The Wildcats were on the board first, taking a 5-0 lead with the contest's first try.  The Spartans erased the zero under TWU on the scoreboard later in the first.  Central was called for a high tackle and Trinity Western opted to attempt a penalty kick from range, knocking it through to cut Central Washington's lead to 5-3.
 
Central wasted no time answering back.  After a brief possession off the restart for Trinity Western, the Wildcats won possession away and were in for the try and a 12-3 advantage.
 
Later in the first half, the Spartans were looking to build from their own defensive end.  An off-load was caught out on the back row and intercepted for another Wildcat try.  The conversion made it 19-3.
 
After another Wildcat try made it 24-3, Central added one more try to their tally.  A well-placed kick into touch gave the Crimson and Black a line-out inside enemy territory.  They didn't waste the opportunity, capitalizing in the first half's final phase for a 31-3 edge.
 
Trinity Western was the first to ground the ball for a try in the second stanza.  They were able to extend play from the middle of the pitch to the left wing, where the Spartans were just able to record the try.
 
Wasting no time on a response, the Wildcats pressured hard off the restart.  They forced a turnover and played the width of the pitch for the try.  After the conversion, Central held a 38-10 lead. 
 
Leading by 28 already, the Wildcats capitalized quickly off the ensuing restart with another try grounded under the uprights for a 45-10 advantage.  They extended their lead again with another try under the uprights minutes later.
 
Max Riseham capped off a lengthy jaunt through the offensive half of the pitch with a try.  The conversion made it 59-10.
 
Another lengthy run, this time from Brian Nault led to a try for the Crimson and Black.  Nault was brought down near the try line, but undeterred, the Wildcats found Cole Zarcone for the try.
 
The junior fullback from Kingston upon Hull picked up his second try, breaking through the Spartans' defense. Another conversion made it 71-10.  Central added another try for the 76-10 victory.