Rabbitahz Open the Summer Season With a Statement

The first competition points of the Hopoate Cup 2026 went up for grabs at Burgess Park in Alpine, and the season opener delivered everything a first round should. One hundred and twenty two points, twenty four tries, and a ladder that finally means something. When the full-time whistle went, the Bluffdale Rabbitahz had it 76–46 over the Riverton Seagulls.

The form guide did not survive first contact either. Riverton came in off a big 66–20 pre-season win, while Bluffdale had dropped their hit-out to the Broncos. None of that mattered once the real stuff started.

Bluffdale set the tone early

The opening forty decided it. Bluffdale put up 42 first-half points to Riverton’s 12, and that thirty-point cushion was the ball game.

The damage came from everywhere. Ten different Bluffdale players finished the day with a try to their name, with Mckay M., Tee S., Tesimale N., Vise L. and Tuuaga L. all crossing twice. Depth like that is a hard thing to defend and a harder thing to scout, and it is exactly how you open a title campaign.

If a coach could scribble one note against a 76-point night, it was the kicking. Bluffdale converted six of their sixteen tries, with Peni P. leading the way on three. Plenty of points still left out there. You can see more of Bluffdale at Bluffdale Rabbitahz.

Riverton trade scores to the final whistle

Here is the stat that should worry the rest of the competition. After the break, Riverton went point for point with the eventual ladder leaders. The second half finished 34–34, it was 56–30 at the water break, and the two sides were still trading scores late. A 46-point night in a season opener is an attacking statement all of its own.

Harrison M. was the best player on the park in a losing side. Four tries, the last one converted with his own boot, and a match-high eighteen points. Jarom N. crossed twice, Errol M. and TJ B. grabbed one each, and Celcius T. was near flawless off the tee with six conversions from seven attempts. The defensive answers never quite came in the first half, but Riverton kept coming for the full eighty. See more of them at Riverton Seagulls.

How the points came

Bluffdale finished with sixteen tries and six goals. Mckay M., Tee S., Tesimale N., Vise L. and Tuuaga L. bagged doubles, and Tasi T., Seth B., Lilo V., Kelemete F. and Sosaia L. crossed once each. Peni P. kicked three conversions and Vise L. added another. One Bluffdale try and two conversions belong to a new signing whose registration is still going through, so they sit under Unknown player in the stats until it lands.

Riverton’s eight tries came from four men. Harrison M. with four, Jarom N. with two, and Errol M. and TJ B. with one apiece. Celcius T. slotted six of seven and Harrison M. converted his own.

The full player-by-player box score, every try, kick and point, live from the league’s game day system, is just below in Full match stats. The complete photo gallery and the full match video are in the Match Centre too.

The ladder race starts here

Two competition points and a +30 differential made Bluffdale the early ladder leaders, a position they defended a week later at the Alofa Faʻasāmoa festival in Round 2. For Riverton, 46 points in a season opener reads like a promise. This team will not be short of attack in 2026.

Come play some footy

The season is young and there is a full summer of rugby league still ahead. If a 122-point opener made your boots itch, take that as your sign. The Lehi Raiders and the Riverton Seagulls are both actively recruiting right now, and you do not need any experience. Turn up ready to learn and the rest takes care of itself.

Fill out the interested player form and we will connect you with the right club. You can browse every side on the teams page, go straight to the clubs building their squads at Lehi Raiders and Riverton Seagulls, or see what is next on the full season schedule.

Thank you to our league sponsors

This match report is powered by Ghost Zero Systems, our league technology and media partner. The website, the media distribution, the online registration, and the live game day stats tracking that make write-ups like this one possible all run on the platform they built for the URLA. Everything you just read, from the scoreboard to the scorers, comes straight from that system.

None of the rest of it happens without the businesses that back Utah rugby league either. Our thanks this season go to Safe and Sound Pianos, our league title sponsor, along with Neighborhood Barbers, Amplifico Marketing, Catering by Bryce, Eberhard Photo, In Roam Outfitters, Kiwi Tu Meke Bites, Seki Construction, Sina HQ and Top Notch Movers. Match-day photos come courtesy of our photography partner, Eberhard Photo.

Want the full season picture? The live league table and player stats update as results come in, and every approved player has a profile with their season and career numbers. If your business wants to get behind the league, take a look at how sponsorship works.