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FEATURE STORY
Utah Learns From Loss
American National Rugby League expansion team Utah Avalanche has shown a marked improvement in its second game in as many weeks.
Despite going down to the Provo Steelers for the second straight week, the rugby league new boys showed they have a bright future in front of them.
They turned the previous week’s 54-point beating by the Steelers into a positive lesson and closed the gap to 38-18.
The Avalanche led their more fancied opponents 18-10 at halftime, but were then shut out in the second forty.
Utah captain Aaron Thompson led from the front with Brian Jensen, Josh Olschewski, Tim Pollock, Jason McFarland and Kali Tavake all turning in encouraging performances.
“We don't want to take anything away from the Steelers win because they are a great team with great players,” said Avalanche president George Tupou. “They lifted in the second half and secured the win.
“We are improving with each game we play and we were really happy with the way everyone played.”
The Avalanche, which will be part of the AMNRL's new Western Conference, will be in action again this weekend when they tackle the British Columbia Bulldogs in a cross-border rugby league challenge in Canada.
