Belmont Shore and the Kansas City Blues both notched wins to get into the National DI Club Quarterfinals.

The Blues needed everything they had and some excellent goalkicking to get by the East Palo Alto Bulldogs, while Belmont Shore put Dallas to the sword.

The Bulldogs got on the board early against Kansas City, with Jack Halalilo slotting the first penalty goal. Five minutes later, Kansas City’s Jordan Neville replied. Consistent pressure from KC forced the Bulldogs to commit a series of penalties. Neville was good on three more kicks in the first half to put his side up 12-3.

EPA inched closer with a try from flanker Rick Moala, and the teams changed ended with Kansas City up 12-8.

One more Neville penalty put KC up 15-8, and then at 50 minutes the Blues claimed their only try to lead 22-8.

EPA scored with about 18 to go through No. 8 Viliami Tai. But Kansas City held on from there.

Kansas City Blues 22
Tries: Neville
Convs: Neville
Pens: Neville 4
(Note: the game report from USA Rugby appears to have the wrong scorers, and we are assuming from our knowledge of KC this is correct, but we may be wrong, also)

East Palo Alto Bulldogs 13
Tries: Moala, Tai
Pens: Halalilo


 Belmont Shore, meanwhile, had no trouble at all with the Dallas Reds.

Dallas held on close for a while, and were behind only 8-0 past the 20-minute mark. But then Shore broke through. Jacob Grubbs, Rainer Ball, and Sinipati Uiagalelei all scored tries, two converted by Kameron Moeller, for an unassailable 27-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Uiagalelei scored twice to secure his hat trick, and James Muse and Sam Lilley also touched down.

Dallas got a try with three minutes to go.

Belmont Shore now plays the KC Blues Sunday in the quarterfinals.

Belmont Shore 49
Tries: Lilley 2, Grubbs, R. Ball, Uiagalelei 3, Muse
Convs: Moeller 3
Pens: Moeller

Dallas 5
Tries: T. Ball