On Saturday, May 3rd, Tigers Rugby Football Club faced 12th ranked Ft. Collins Youth Rugby in the Colorado Youth Rugby’s State Championship Tournament at Dick’s Sporting Goods Complex.

The Tigers took an early lead on a try by Tony Costello of Pomona High School. The drop kick goal by Charles Martinez made the score 7 to 0.  Fort Collins answered with a penalty goal to put the halftime tally at 7-3.

A spirited and motivated Ft. Collins team, that has only beaten the Tigers once in their history, controlled the second half with a kicking game that confused the Tigers backfield in the swirling wind.  Late in the second half, Fort Collins’ kicking game intensely pressured the injured Tigers fullback to muff the ball at the right goal post. A resultant try, touched down by the well-covered attack of the Fort Collins wing, put the Tigers’ division rival ahead for good. By upsetting the 5th ranked North Division champions and their supporters, Ft. Collins advanced to the Championship bracket. Final score: Fort Collins 10, Tigers Rugby 7.

With the loss, Tigers Rugby failed to qualify for the championship bracket for the fifth year in a row and moved to the Plate Division. Tigers Rugby had an excellent opportunity to return to the finals and avenge their loss to Chaparral last year. Their opponent, the Glendale Raptor’s U-19 team, was just as inspired to play, hoping to avenge the early season loss to the Tigers at Championship Field in Broomfield, CO.

The Glendale club was physically aggressive early causing a yellow card to their eight man.  Ten minutes in the “sin bin” for the Raptor’s player was enough for the Tigers Quincy Anderson to “tap and go” for a 5-meter try.  Charles Martinez dropped kick for the conversion to put the Tigers ahead, 7-0.  Glendale answered with the try and missed the conversion kick, and the score remained 7-5. Tigers came back strongly in spite of confrontational play and occasional discipline issues on both sides of the field.  The Tigers took a 14 to five lead before a Glendale penalty goal brought the score to 14-8. A s tempers flared the Glendale club was charged with unsportsmanlike penalty prompting a second yellow card. Unfortunately Josh Carvahlo of Pomona High School retaliated and took his own yellow card and 10 minutes in the Sin Bin. In the ensuing series of skirmishes, Ryan Torrez also Pomona high school was cited for a shoulder charge and the Tigers found themselves a man down at 14 on 13 with 2 men in the Sin Bin. Glendale took the advantage and eventually scored the last second try and the conversion to go ahead 15 to 14 with ten seconds remaining. The Tigers team was slow to approach the kick off and the referee blew whistle indicating full time, final score Glendale 15, Tigers 14.

Tigers Rugby Football Club will host one more intersquad match at Broomfield County Commons Park and celebrate this amazing rebuilding season with an awards banquet. Tigers finish their season at 5-4 in league play (including the State Championship tournament), and 20-14-2 overall. The Tigers entered the State Championship Tournament rated fifth in the state. Tigers Rugby experienced an extraordinary season despite close losses in the playoff rounds this season. The progression of team as a whole, and the fact that only three seniors will graduate this year, gives great promise for next year.

The State semifinals will be held next week at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. In the Championship Bracket, Aurora Saracens, Colorado Springs, Regis Jesuit and Denver East will face off.