by Daniel Holzhauer
It was a hard fought game at Infinity Park, but with the help of four tries by winger Leki Latu, the Life West Gladiators finished their first season in Division II as national champions.
In their first year in existence, Life West captured the Division III title, and they proved that the step up in competition was not too much for the Life University affiliate.
The tide turned just before halftime as Latu got on the board with the first of his four tries. Life West took a quick lineout deep in their own territory. They moved it out wide and made a big break through midfield. Latu was there in support and was rewarded with the offload and the try that helped put Life West in front 21-17. Latu would punch in another try just three minutes later to make the score 26-17 at halftime.
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Life also got off to an extremely quick start as they lead 14-3 thanks to a try by Akuila Uaisele, who picked the ball and steamrolled a defender just three minutes in to the match, and one scored by Mose Fuala'au ten minuted later.
Wisconsin showed great determination as they fought back after their slow start. After a great counter ruck, Wisconsin turned the ball over and moved it to winger Andrew “Bambi” Norton on the short side. He streaked down the field and scored an 80 meter try to make the score 14-10.
Soon after, Wisconsin took their only lead of the game with help from a 5-meter lineout. The Life West defense was strong, but Flavio Chuahy eventually found a gap and put Wisconsin in front 17-14.
The second half was an extremely physical but chippy affair. Life West racked up three yellow cards, including two to scrumhalf Devereaux Ferris. Neither team would put points on the board for the first 20 minuted of the half, but Life finally broke through when Ferris, back from his first yellow card, made a great dummy and found a seam down the sideline to score in the corner.
Latu sealed the game when Wisconsin attempted to run out of their own try zone but a sloppy pass hit the deck and Latu swooped in for his third try of the game. Wisconsin's flyhalf, Miles Jobke scored a try with three minutes remaining before Latu capped off the game by scoring his fourth try with no time left on the buzzer and gave the Life West Gladiators a 43-24 victory over Wisconsin.