Camas rugby keeps rolling

Sunlight brought a warrior’s mentality out of the Camas rugby players Saturday, at Skyridge Middle School.

“It’s just a lot of fun to be able to play the game you love with your buddies, and to have a lot of people come and watch,” said Camas High School junior Nickolas Gadbaw. “It was amazing being out in the sun.”

Playing at home for the first time this season, the Mean Machine out-muscled Tualatin in the mud 50-3. Gadbaw led the attack with three tries for 15 points.

“I’ve been playing this game for 12 years, and I have lots of experience. It’s great to be able to show what I can do,” Gadbaw said. “I love my teammates. They knew just what to do to get me the ball at the right time. I got some good kicks and I got all the right bounces.”

Jason Vailea added 10 points off a run and an interception. The Camas sophomore said he loves using brute force to get the ball across the goal line.

“In football, you make a play and it stops. In rugby, it just keeps going. You got to find the ball,” Vailea said. “I really like that there are no pads. It’s all body to body. You can’t be scared of anything in this game. If you’re afraid, that’s when they take you down.”

Jesse Saulo, Jesse Kiesser and Ian Dea each scored five points. Nolan Valentar added five conversion kicks for two points each.

Camas is 4-0 in the Rugby Oregon Boys High School Division Two standings. For scores and a schedule, go to www.rugbyoregon.org.

The Camas rugby team is looking for local sponsors. For more information, call Meggan Smith at 609-2430.