Baylor moved to 2-0 after defeating Oklahoma 31-10 Saturday in a Red River Conference match live-streamed by FloRugby from Baylor's home ground in Waco, TX.

The Bears showed off some nifty backline play and played some aggressive defense against a much bigger OU forward pack. Throughout the game, especially in the first half, the OU forwards powered straight ahead using lock Austin Weber and flanker Evan Morris, among others, to push the Baylor defense back. 

The idea was to pummel the Baylor defense, or to suck it in enough to send the ball wide to wings Robert Hiles and Russell Rice. The plan had merit, but an unlucky bounce early produced an interception try for Baylor wing Michael Haynes, somewhat against the run of play, and Baylor continued to pick scoring moments.

OU replied with a well-taken penalty goal from flyhalf Richard Papenfus, but another long period of attack from the Sooners resulted in a turnover deep inside the Baylor 22. Abu Kamara, on as an impact sub early thanks to an injury, blazed around the outside to get Baylor going, and soon the Bears were in for another score.

Sadly, Kamara ended up having to leave the game due to injury right afterward.

Baylor scored again, with fullback Luke Davis making all sorts of tacklers miss on a counter and flanker Ryan Macintosh fending off several others to set up the try.

Nice interplay between the forwards and backs put Baylor up 24-3 with halftime approaching.

For Oklahoma, it was a frustrating game, as the OU forwards controlled large chunks of the play, especially the scrums, where they dominated. But collapsed or badly wheeled scrums yielded no penalties for the Sooners and Baylor managed to survive the worst of that aspect of play.

"We need to work on our set piece," said Baylor head coach Mason Hering after the game. "That much is clear."

Oklahoma captain Logan Ronan, who, despite being the smallest forward on the pitch, was a one-man wrecking crew, and led by example all day. And while Baylor scored a try early in the second half, a stronger defense from OU, and a no-quit attitude exemplified by Ronan making tackle after tackle, meant Baylor score no more about about 55 minutes.

Oklahoma, later in the game, did get a try thanks in large part to two massive hits from Ronan, and a run from the captain, plus some solid work from No. 8 Luis Nunez and center (and former hooker) Hunter Buchanan.

That try was fair reward for a lot of hard work from the Sooners, but Baylor had chances to break the game open further. Twice the Bears had players on an open run for the line - wing Ben Erste and prop Brian Ciszewski, and twice they were hauled down just short. Captain and inside center Stewart Morris, who may well have been Baylor's best player, sidestepped his way to the line only to lose the ball just as he was about to touch down.

Both teams found intriguing ways to produce turnovers, and it was an entertaining and back-and-forth match. For Oklahoma, it was a step forward and proof that effort can get you far. However, a snappier connection from the forwards to the backline would have helped the Sooners.

For Baylor, it was a game where the Bears showed their finishing touch in the first half, but needed to be a little more clinical (and better in the scrum) overall.

Meanwhile, also in the Red River, Texas defeated Houston fairly convincingly, while Arkansas got 16 points from scrumhalf Alex Rees and two key late tries from flyhalf Jack Casey to hold off Texas Tech 40-36.