ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's rugby team played to a 27-27 draw with Brigham Young University on a rain-soaked day in Provo, Utah.

"I can't fault our guys' effort today," CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley said. "But effort does not always translate into execution. We started well but let silly mistakes creep in and gave BYU a ton of momentum. Full credit to them [BYU], they made us pay, and we struggled to fire a shote in the second half. Mistakes meant we could not get out of our own half efficiently in tough conditions and we were very lucky to hold onto the draw. Again, our young tight five get to learn valuable lessons that you cannot buy and we will continue to chip away and make some jumps performance wise heading into this week."
 
The Wildcats put themselves ahead in just the third minute. Central kicked to touch, gaining territory deep in the Cougars' end. Following a lineout, Calvin Liulamaga plunged over the try line for the contest's first try. Lewis Hollidge knocked the conversion through the uprights, giving CWU a 7-0 lead.
 
Brigham Young put together a strong phase in the 10^th minute, driving inside the Wildcats' third, but Central's defense held strong and was able to relieve pressure with a clearance.
 
Central added its second try in the 13^th minute. Another lineout in BYU territory gave Jack Wendling a shot at the try line and he barreled his way through for a 12-0 lead.
 
It only took a few minutes before the 'Cats struck again. Noah Wright bounded over the try line in the 16^th minute, pushing Central's advantage to 17-0.
 
The Cougars struck in the 18^th minute, capitalizing off a lineout to bring the score to 17-5.
 
It wasn't until the 31^st minute the score sheet saw additional action. Play was whistled down on a Cougar penalty and CWU opted for a penalty kick. Hollidge knocked it through, extending Central's lead to 20-5.
 
BYU found the try line gain in the 33^rd minute. Belayed in their own, Central tried to clear the lines with a kick. Instead, the Cougars were able to pounce on a loose ball and skitter in for a try, cutting the score to 20-12 in favor of CWU. On the restart, Central was unable to reel in the deep kick. Again, the Cougars found the loose ball for a try and a 20-19 difference.
 
The Wildcats took a one-point, 20-19 lead into halftime.
 
Seven minutes into the second stanza, the Cougars took their first lead of the fixture. A lineout to the Cougars led to driving maul, in which BYU was able to ground the ball for a try and a 24-20 edge. Brigham Young added a penalty kick in the 63^rd minute, extending their lead to 27-20.
 
Central Washington found the equalizer in the 68^th minute of play. The Wildcats took possession after the Cougars relieved pressure in their own end with a kick. Wendling found his way through BYU's defense for the second time for a try, before Hollidge notched the conversion to level the score at 27-27.
 
The Cougars threatened again in the 74^th minute, driving a maul close to the try line before shifting play wide to find a gap in the Wildcats' defense. Central's defensive line held and kept the Cougars out of the try zone. Three minutes later, a scrum to Central Washington gave the 'Cats a chance to alleviate the late pressure from BYU. Central's defense held for the last 2:30 of regulation inside their own third, preserving the draw at 27-27.
 
Central hosts the University of Arizona on Saturday, March 27, at noon in Tomlinson Stadium.